Ripples of the Tournament
Hazel entered the Dreamscape early, before most of her friends had arrived, the soft shimmer of the shifting landscape reflecting her anticipation. The Dueling Grounds waited, empty and still, but brimming with potential. Hermione had asked Her to meet her here early. She could tell that her friend had something important and maybe even a bit stressing on her mind so she told her they could talk whenever she was ready. Hermione had insisted on before their next training session.
"Hermione," Hazel greeted her just as she began to materialize onto the dreamscape. Hazel could sense the tension in her friend's posture. "You look… really nervous. What did you want to talk about."
Hermione glanced around, lowering her voice. "I'm worried about Harry. He's been chosen for the Triwizard Tournament. I wasn't sure how to tell you, and he—he doesn't want anyone to know. Especially not you. He doesn't want you in danger."
It had all come out in one long rush and Hermione had to catch her breath.
"He actually swore Ron and I to secrecy and forbade us to tell you, but how can I not tell you…"
Hazel felt a flicker of surprise but quickly collected herself. She allowed Hermione to ramble a bit as she thought. Of course Harry would not tell her. How many things was she keeping from him under the pretense of not wanting him to worry? They would need a long heart to heart talk between brother and sister and soon.
When she noticed Hermione had stopped her short rant and calmed a bit she spoke. "I see… Then we'll need to understand why. I will do a divination. Thanks for telling me Hermione. When I finally talk to Harry about things I promise not to bring your name up." She shrugged. "I will tell him it came to me in a vision."
Hermione nodded, relief passing over her face that Hazel had taken the news calmly. "I trust your instincts. I can help you focus."
The two girls hugged Evervine entered the dreamscape. She looked at the two for a moment and without hesitation asked.
"What has happened tell me now?!"
Hazel rolled her eyes as Hermione's eyes went wide.
Hazel explained everything, including the need for secrecy.
"These Death Eaters are incredible!"
"Death Eaters?! You think it was Death Eaters?!" Hermione's anxiety hit a new high but Evervine was completely oblivious.
"Of course Death Eaters. I have been doing research and this Voldemort has not obtained all that he needs to resurrect himself. It has to be at least on of his crew making problems. Probably even luring Harry into a trap."
The more Evervine spoke the more Hermione's anxiety rose until Hazel had to intervene.
"But you have Dumbledore, my mother and the other professors there. I am sure they will have things under control."
"They haven't thus far."
Hermione whimpered and Hazel gave Evervine a stern look.
"What?"
Hazel just shook her head.
"Others are coming. Let's talk about this later."
---
By mid-morning, the others had arrived: Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Marcel. Hazel guided them through counter-curse exercises, starting with Mens Fortis, reinforcing mental and physical fortitude against Cruciatus and Imperius. Her wand traced a half counterclockwise circle and then shot straight up into the air. Sparks rained down as the protective spell solidified around each caster.
"Focus on intention, not just the motion," Hazel reminded them. "Anticipation is key."
They each practiced in turn. They had all gotten very good at the technique and each had different colored sparks that rained down, with Hazel, Marcel, and Evervine able to cast the spell over their comrades.
Hermione turned her wand to the right counterclockwise in a semicircle and then pushed it straight up in the air. Purple sparks of magical light fell around Ron and she pumped her fist in the air in triumph.
"Very good Hermione! Let's practice this one a little bit longer then I have two more to show you. I will just show them to you now and we can begin practicing them together next time."
"That does not mean we can't practice them before we return."
Ron frowned at Hermione. "Why are you looking at me?!"
Fred leaned on his brother, his arm wrapped around his shoulder and hanging down the front of Ron's chest.
"You know exactly why she said it."
George came around Hazel and stole a kiss while Harry was distracted.
"Yeah little brother. Be glad you have such a woman here to protect you."
Hermione turned red as Ron became flustered. Hazel rolled her eyes.
"Practice now, jokes later." Both Fred a d George saluted her in unison. Marcel scoffed.
After the main exercises, Hazel demonstrated two new techniques. Aegis Flow and Luminis Veil.
Aegis Flow was completed by the caster stepping forward on their right foot, saying Aegis Flow precisely and with authority, while circling the wand to the left in three tight circles.
It formed a protective, iridescent fluid-like mesh, that covered the body and became a barrier against any magical attack. As soon as she cast it, Hazel felt its weakness. She had worked hard on the incantation and still it was too weak. They would definitely need to explore different dimensions to find a counter.
Shylah sang from her perch where she was observing the training session.
"You do not like the results?"
Hazel looked at her with a shake of her head. "Of course not. You see how weak it is."
Shylah's reply was a sweet song to everyone else's ears.
"I know a star dimension that has powerful words of power, but it is up to you to learn them and to show your friends how to safely use them in these weaker dimensions"
Hazel didn't reply, she simply nodded thoughtfully.
Next, she introduced Luminis Veil, a soft glow forming around the head and chest, shielding against all mental manipulations and attacks, but only for five minutes. Hermione's eyes widened. "It's… incredible."
Evervine shrugged. "Sala dimension is a dimension of mentalists. This is strong, but not unbreakable. They would have much stronger spells that would counteract most mental attacks."
Hermione's frown deepened. "Why have we cut ourselves off?"
Evervine and Marcel shrugged as one.
For this incantation the caster merely spoke the words of power and pointed their wand while thinking of the person the wanted to effect.
---
As the group departed, Hazel lingered, preparing for the ritual to probe Sof House's fate lines. The dreamscape changed. It waved and shimmered and when it cleared it was a vast room with a large empty space in the center. The room was all wood and several trees grew tall and massive along the walls. The dark wood shown in a mysterious light and runes lit up every now and again, as if reinforcing a spell.
Professor Sing stepped on the dreamscape with practiced ease. Her vast blue and silver robes flowed around her as if they were the embodiment of a protective spell that continually changed their positions to ensure her safety.
She and Hazel arranged the components carefully. Candles, sigil, runes, and ancient talismans of power surrounded them. When they finished they took their positions to ensure the maximum potential for power. Shylah flew from her perch, circled them and then flew overhead creating a perfect power circle. Threads of energy anchoring from the her, Hazel, and Sing toward Sof House. Then threads of power flowed from the center of the circle and Shylah's tail feathers, meeting in the middle to connect Shylah to the spell.
She became both their anchor and their power source.
The ritual began smoothly, visions of threads twisting and pulsing with subtle distortions appearing in the air. Hazel guided the currents, her third eye opening just enough to trace the path of the disturbance. Thin lines appeared first as data, then hints of scenes, visible only to those attuned to fate.
The quickly moved to her position on the dreamscape as if they were overly eager to find her and grant her every wish. Her third I found scenes and focused. She felt the power humming through her as image after image appeared.
Sof House and it smoky black walls and deep red accents appeared before hazy, as if she were in a strange dream.
A thin boy with curly red hair appeared. His face bright but a thick blackness clung to him.
As the scene began to sharpen Professor Sing suddenly lost focus, distracted by Hazel's extraordinary third-eye perception. A surge of energy jolted both of them backward. Hazel barely managed to shout a warning before the Dreamscape fractured, and both were flung back to waking reality, hearts racing.
Professor Sing Admonished herself.
'I am so sorry Hazel.'
'It is okay Professor. We are both unharmed, but I think we will have headaches for a bit.'
'What did you see.'
Professor Sing listened to the description of the boy and began to frown.
'…, but it was that thick blackness around him that has me puzzled. It was like he had a natural curse on him.'
'Natural curse? There is no such thing.'
'Exactly.'
---
As Hazel laid down her third eye trembled and a distorted scene opened before her eyes.
Rosa, Temperance, and Timothy Greenstream sitting together in one of the caverns below the school. They smiled and spoke with their heads huddled close as if whispering a sweet secret. Hazel couldn't hear anything they said but a chill slithered down her spine.
Shylah's sweet voice came to her.
"It would seem all of this is related to that girl. You should killer her Hazel."
"I am not a killer."
"True. But necessity often overlooks wants and clings hard to needs."
Hazel sighed. 'Why were star birds so tightly bound to fate and divination? They always make things too complicated.'
Her thoughts drifted softly through the dreamscape as her eyes fluttered open. Her bed and her splitting headache announcing the end of the vision.