Professor Minerva McGonnogal led the Fifth Year students from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, along with one distinctly unpleasant woman who was appointed as Defense against the Dark Arts teacher for the year, up the wok towards a mansion that was as large as Buckingham Palace. Within this mansion lay an important lesson for all the students invited to attend.
Minerva knocked on the large double doors, which were promptly opened by a gentleman who resembled an English Butler. The Butler, who identified himself as Sebastian, led the two teachers and students into the home of the Renaldi Siblings. The group observed many things around them, apparently, the siblings had a taste for fine art, particularly Renaissance art. Minerva looked at the walls and noticed that the paintings displayed scenes depicted in the Holy Bible. She might not believe in that particular book and the beliefs it described, but, being a Scotswoman, it was essentially in her upbringing.
Sebastian led the group to a smaller set of double doors and knocked. Minerva could hear a recording of George Beverly Shea singing the Hymn “Just As I Am.” She was reminded of the Crusade led by a man named Billy Graham in Aberdeen a few years ago. She also vaguely recalled attending a crusade in London decades ago. Minerva had to wonder what the magical history lesson would be about. She doubted that Albus Dumbledore really knew. After all, the invitation was addressed to her and the Gryffindor Fifth Years. She assumed that Pomona got a similar invitation. Unfortunately, Professor Sprout couldn’t attend as she decided that Severus Snape needed to be cursed to bits.
The music stopped and the doors were opened by a young red headed woman who vaguely reminded Minerva of Amelia Bones’ best friend. This was confirmed when a red haired middle launched itself into the woman’s arms. The woman laughed happily and hugged one Susan Bones. The woman looked up and motioned everyone into her study. Sebastian left to prepare refreshments for the group. The woman invited everyone to find a chair, of which, Minerva noticed, there were enough in the large study to comfortably sear everyone.
The woman sat down behind a large desk with a Bible on it. Minerva decided to take the initiative “Thank you for having us, Ms….?” The woman smiled “Think nothing of it, Professor McGonnogal. Please, call me Ivy. Amelia recommended this little field trip. She also sent out the invitations. Ravenclaw and Slytherin will have a lesson very similar to this in the coming days. By the way, it is good to see you well. The last time I saw you was in, let me see, the year Amelia graduated from Hogwarts. I remember that Lilly Evans was devastated to see her mentor leave. Poor Sirius Black certainly looked a bit sad to see his girlfriend graduate. Now, to the lesson!”
Ivy Renaldi proceeded to get up and walk over to a large white sheet, which was covering something rather large. She smiled at the group of students ”Now, who here has heard of the cruciatus curse?” A bushy haired girl raised her hand. The girl introduced herself as Hermione Granger when Ivy asked her name and was about to answer the question when the woman in pink cleared her throat. Ivy idly observed this woman and pressed a button on her desk. Roughly 10 seconds later, the door opened and a metallic thing walked in. It calmly introduced itself as HK-47, Ivy’s bodyguard and security chief. HK proceeded to grab the woman in pink and carry her out of the room after closing the door.
Ivy smiled ”Now we can resume the lesson. HK will deal with the uninvited guest as he sees fit. Ms. Granger, what were you about to say a few moments ago?” Hermione answered Ivy’s query. Ivy smiled “Excellent. Ten points to…… actually, scratch that. Just a second.” Ivy quickly walked to her desk and wrote out a note, signed it, and placed it in a tray from where the note vanished a second later. Ivy walked back to the white sheet “Miss Granger, you now have a coupon for any shop of your choice in either Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. I’ve spoken to Filius about an individual merit based system. Time to experiment with one.” Minerva raised an eyebrow, she idly recalled Amelia Bones’ rarely seen best friend mention the very same system. Ivy smirked, then, frowned “Now, Hermione is correct about the cruciatus curse and what it does. What I want to impart to you today is the history of that particular curse.”
Ivy proceeded to pull the sheet from the object, just as Sebastian walked into the room pushing a refreshment cart. The students and teacher stared in shock at the object, which was revealed to be a large painting. The painting depicted a man. That wouldn’t be unusual except for how He was depicted. The man was nailed to a cross. He was bleeding, extremely thin, and wore only a cloth covering around his waist and a crown of thorns upon his head. Ivy looked at the painting in sadness and shed a tear. She then turned back to the students who appeared to be in a state of shock. Minerva, Ivy noticed, looked very pale. She proceeded to give the Scotswoman a drink.
Susan spoke up ”Auntie, what painting is this?” Ivy looked at Susan. She constantly thanked Amelia for bringing her to visit when Susan was younger. Susan was basically the daughter Ivy wished she could have had. Ivy smiled slightly “Susan, everyone, I give you the painting Il Crucifixio. I painted this a great many years ago from memory. You see, the events described in the book known as the Holy Bible are quite true. Through an unfortunate accident involving time travel, my brother, Zack, Amelia Bones, and myself were thrown back in time. We landed during the start of the ministry of Christ and proceeded to follow everything at a distance. We saw everything, culminating with the Crucifixation. Roughly a day after the Ascention, we were brought back.”
Ivy Renaldi proceeded to give a lecture on the history of the cruciatus curse. Once she finished, she gave the group leave to return to Hogwarts via Portkey. Many took up the offer. Minerva stayed behind, along with Susan, Hermione, and a raven haired boy with glasses and a scar. After seeing the others off, Minerva led the three students back to Ivy’s study. They found Ivy kneeling with the Bible from her desk open on the floor before her. She was praying. Ivy finished her prayers, grabbed the Bible, and stood back up. She turned in surprise when she heard footsteps. Susan smiled “Auntie Ivy, thanks for teaching us that lesson today. I want to introduce you to some friends of mine, you’ve met Hermione. Next to her is her boyfriend, Harry Potter.” Ivy looked at Harry thoughtfully, she smiled “Mr. Potter, it is a pleasure to meet you at last. Susan’s stories and letters never did Justice to the real thing. Now, I may have something to help with that scar of yours.”
Ivy led the small group to a doom with a basin filled with water in a courtyard. Ivy smiled “This basin is filled with Holy Water. It is commonly used in exorcisms.” Ivy proceeded to dab a cloth in the water, and dabbed it on Harry’s scar. A black mist and evil looking face rose out of the scar. It went for Ivy, perceiving her as a threat for destroying it. Ivy destroyed the spirit by holding up a wooden cross in its direction. The spirit screamed in agony and disappeared slowly, drawing six other similar looking spirits with it, along with numerous other screaming balls of mist. The group breathed a sigh of relief. Minerva voiced an interesting question, well, actually two, “Ivy, did you ever attend Hogwarts, you mentioned Amelia Bones’ friends earlier almost as if you knew them well? Also, how did you get rid of those vile things just now?”
Ivy smiled “Yes, Professor McGonnogal, I did attend Hogwarts, despite being a muggle. Professor Flitwick met me one day when Amelia took Zack and I to Diagon Alley. He saw how protective I was of my brother and best friend, and offered to take me on as his apprentice in order to train me with various non magical Goblin weapons. I also studied the history of magical Britain along with all seven years of magical education. Filius reckoned I should be able to spot many forms of threats and know how to handle them. As to the vile spirits, the Holy Water dealt with the one in Harry’s scar. It just brought others with it. I’m guessing they were to sustain it in case of an emergency. As to their disappearance, the Cross I held dealt with them. You see, it is made from the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Now, it is getting later in the day, won’t you stay for dinner? I can have some rooms set up.” Ivy led the small group back into the mansion and went and called Amelia over for dinner. Mentioning that Susan was already there was the selling point.