Oops, I did it again
“Thank you for joining me, Harry.” Dumbledore said as once again Harry found himself in Dumbledore’s office. “I suppose you brought your spellbook?”
“Right here!” Harry said as he brought the book. It was due to two pages sticking together Harry accidentally cast a new sort of spell.
“And welcome back, Ms. Hedwig, Ms. Maps, Ms. Bolt and Ms. Cloak.” Dumbledore greeted Harry’s new family.
“Good evening, old-timer. By the way, I’m taking the lemon drops, not taking no for an answer.” Maps said as she casually snatched the candy bowl and emptied it out in her mouth.
Dumbledore just ignored her. “Anyhow, you probably know already I called you here because I want to study the magic Harry has accidentally unlocked and how you it made you what you are.”
“Sounds fascinating. Reminds me of my creator and his brothers. Despite their flaws they were really devoted to magical studies.” Cloak noted.
“I see…” Dumbledore said. “Now, you don’t happen to know what happened to your…shall we call them ‘cousins’?”
Cloak knew Dumbledore spoke about her fellow Hallows. “One if in good hands.” Cloak said as she eyed Dumbledore’s wands. “The other is beyond my reach. Wherever they are, they are hidden well.”
“Anyhow, I’d like to do a few little tests. Hedwig, if I recall you have discovered a new ability, a sort of Apparating that may be closer to a Phoenix and a Diricawl?” Dumbledore asked.
“Yes. It was by accident, though.” Hedwig said.
“A lot of good things happen to be discovered by accidents. It’s how you got to be after all. Now, I’m going to compare your powers to that of Fawkes. To see where your teleportation powers measure up, that seems to be a good place to start…” Dumbledore said. And from that point onwards the tests started.
Hedwig’s powers were tested. Like a Phoenix, her unique Apparating power like a Phoenix isn’t stopped by any ward, and works in combination by magical owls’ instinct to always find the recipient of the letters and packages whether or not they’ve been to the destination before. It is not as potent as a Phoenix’ but still more then Diricawls and human apparition.
Next were Maps’ powers. Her body was all ink and parchment which she could freely reshape. She shifted into various male and female forms, even becoming parchment and ink copies of Dumbledore and Harry (and genderbent versions to mess with them) though she couldn’t hide she was ink and parchment. She can store things in her body, and she could stretch really far, as well as limited shapeshifting. She was able to turn her hands into snake heads, bladed protrusions, large claws…she also wasn’t stopped by magically locked doors since theoretically she could ‘melt down’ and slip under a door and most obstacles. Also she could detach parts of her being and act remotely of her, but only if they are within certain reach.
She also proved that while she can eat human food (especially sweets) they don’t do anything for her. She literally gets no nutrition from it. She did prove to get sustenance from actual ink as she drank out of Dumbledore’s ink pot and looked satisfied.
Cloak of course now could make herself and others invisible and no longer needed to wrap around people. She could also not be detected by any magic when invisible. She also acted as a Veil of Death like with the Dementors but since that day she hadn’t been able to assume it, so only in certain situations. It’d be for the best. While Cloak would never do it, accidentally someone being trapped beyond the veil would be horrifying.
Bolt, in her new form was even faster then before, both in the sky and on the ground. With her running speed, she became a blur. Almost like one of the superheroes from Muggle comics, only probably not being able to break time and space by running fast enough.
Hedwig, as a living being, still had to eat. But due to her new nature she is technically omnivore and capable of eating more then meat. Didn’t change the fact she preferred to eat bacon all the time. Cloak and Bolt also gained no nutrition from eating but did it because they enjoyed it, like Maps. Cloak would need nothing to sustain her since even as a Cloak she was eternal. As a living being of wood, Bolt just needed care, like products to keep wooden furniture or brooms in top shape.
“Mh…yes, this is all very interesting. Really causes me to rethink a few known laws of magic and adjusting some of my existing theories…” Dumbledore managed to still prevent Maps from drinking all his ink and make notes. “Now as for a final test…Harry, can you try to cast the spell again?”
“I’m not sure I can and even if I did, I’m not sure if I should cast it willy-nilly.” Harry noted.
“Don’t worry.” Dumbledore said as he took one of the devices that always seemed to be around his office, but Harry never knew what it did. “Just cast it on this device. It is unaffected by all magic directly, instead absorbs it an analyzes its composition. Would allow me to see the workings of the spell and maybe it can be used in crafting other spells too. Don’t have to hold back, my boy, I modified it to be stronger, so none of the magic should affect the physical world. The device is of no emotional value to you, so if my theory is correct it should not even be transformed. So think of family, like you did the first time and cast it…” Dumbledore said as he put the device on a pedestal he conjured in Harry’s path.
“All right, if you’re sure.” Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath and concentrated. He tried to think of family…his old family which he lost years ago. New family he found with the people currently in the office with him…his friends old and new…a sense of belonging and being loved. “Moefy!” (1)
A burst of light, in various colors shot from the wand and into the device, harmlessly absorbed into it. In the arches of the device, the shiny sphere of rainbow colored magic was held into place. “Whoa, never got a chance to properly look at how the spell looked.” Harry noted.
“Yes, an interesting colorful effect.” Dumbledore said. From the device several runic and arithmetic patterns were projected, with Dumbledore starting to write them down quickly. As Dumbledore continue to write, the device’s gears and arches moved faster.
Harry started to notice. “Er…Professor? The device is going a lot faster now.” It then started to whistle. “And noisy.”
“Mh…I thought I recalibrated the device correctly…” Dumbledore said, still as calm as ever. Then the gears and parts of the machines started to move really, really fast. Then so fast one of the gears popped out and shot across the room, ricocheting. Fawkes barely avoided it and squawked. It nearly hit the Sorting Hat, whom grumbled as he was woken form his nap but went back to sleep. And it shattered the display cage the Sword of Gryffindor was in.
“Er…professor? What do we do now?” Harry asked.
“Well, since I probably will not be able to stop or slow down the device in time not to mention the magical builduip inside I think its best to take cover.” Dumbledore said with an unusual amount of serenity. And then running and jumping behind his desk with great speed and agility for his age.
“Yeah, he has the right idea! Duck!” Bolt said as everyone dodged behind something. The device blew up and the magic inside burst form it and spread across the room. After the smoke cleared, the device was in pieces and partially melted.
“Oh…Sorry Professor, it seems your device is broken. My bad!” Harry noted.
“No, not your fault Harry. You cast the spell like I asked. I miscalculated how strong the magic would be. Let it be a lesson: No matter how smart or wise or knowledgeable you are, always prepare for the fact you can still make mistakes.” Dumbledore said as he approached the device. “I’ll have to fix that.”
“How can you fix that?” Harry wondered.
“With time, patience and an overpowered wand.” Dumbledore said.
“What?” Harry asked.
“Let’s see if nothing else in the room is damaged…” Dumbledore said, ignoring Harry.
“Er, Professor D? I think you should take a look at a few things.” Bolt noted. Dumbledore turned around and saw there were a few more humanoid figures in the room and not just Harry’s family.
The first one is a tall, lean humanoid figure with big, bright yellow eyes that rest upon his wizard hat's hat band, and black skin with a wide grin on his face. What appeared to be dreadlocks seem to be pieces of cloak. He wears a with a red and a long vest, a wizard’s top hat that has a mask-like hat band, long trousers and low heeled shoes. He also gloves and his vest had wide sleeves. All of this were in shades of brown. (2)
The second was a harpy-like figure not unlike Hedwig. Only her feathers were red, yellow, and orange with shades of golden. The feathers making up her hair spiked backwards and were longer then Hedwig’s. She had golden eyes, a pointy nose, freckles that shined like rubies and fire red lips. Her feathers invoked the ferocity of a bird of prey but also the elegance of a swan. The human pans had tanned skin. If you could get past the bird parts, she had the exotic beauty of a mythical fire goddess.
The third figure…It was odd to describe. Her skin seemed to be made out of metal, but it moved and was flexible. Her eyes were metallic too and where her pupils should be were rubies. From head to toe she was covered in gold and silver armor, which appeared edgy and sharp like her feature. The armor also was decorated with rubies and had a few lion-like elements, like the shape of her helmet was like a lion’s head. And she was covered in bladed protusions; on her elbows and forelegs, shoulders, her fingers were small claw-like swords, her hair/mane was made of blades, she had a skirt that became a long dress in the back that was also made of blades and a pair of wings that were detached from her body but floated behind her, looking made of bladed fans. It was very metal and very anime.
Dumbledore blinked. “Well…It seems that the effects of your original spell could indeed be recreated Harry.”
“Oh…” was the only thing Harry said.
The lean hat-themed figure stretched himself. “That was a good nap, I feel refreshed and hey…” he checked himself out. “I have limbs…I can move.” He then started to make an elegant dance across the room. “No longer confined to one spot, I have legs I can stretch, I have arms I can wave and I can sing better then before!” The last words were sung out in a melodious theme. “No longer stuck on a shelf, I can go out and explore the world, take the stage and dazzle them.” The anthropomorphized sorting hat said.
“Oh my, this is quite a rebirth!” the fiery harpy woman said. Her voice was melodious. Soothing, invigorating, musical. Such pleasant warmth radiated from her and her voice, her very presence was making everything around her better. “And I skipped having to go through childhood again this time.” She was obviously Fawkes.
The final, armored bladed lady just checked herself out and took in her new form. She ran her clawed hands across her body, whom despite the armor was incredibly well shaped. She was formerly the Sword of Gryffindor.
“I’m sorry I did this, it was an accident…” Harry said.
“No need to feel sorry, Harry Potter!” Sorting Hat said. “I feel better then ever, you didn’t ruin things, you made them better. I always expected greatness for you, Harry Potter. But you have exceeded any expectations.”
“These new gifts of a sharper mind and greater awareness, and a greater fire burns inside me and a more rhythmic song sounds in my heart then ever before. You have given us the greatest of gifts, little ashling.” Fawkes noted.
The Sword of Gryffindor, in her current form, moved towards Harry and bent down on one knee, her head down, greeting Harry like he was royalty. “I think she kind of pledges allegiance to you.” Maps noted.
“What?” Harry asked.
“You did pull her out the Sorting Hat, like a true Gryffindor. While any brave, chivalrous individual could do it, she seemed to recognize a great Gryffindor spirit in you especially.” Dumbledore said. The metallic waifu glanced upwards with pleading eyes. “I know you have gotten a large family already, but you think you have room for one more? I think she would make a good protector.”
“I guess…is it all right with you guys?” Harry asked his sisters.
“Well, I’m all for it! I mean, she’s pretty ‘metal’!” Bolt said as she pointed and smiled. Everyone looked awkwardly at her. “Get it? Metal? She’s a sword!” They all rolled their eyes and facepalmed.
“Well…I guess welcome to the family. I don’t mind another sibling.” Harry said with a smile. The metallic woman got up, beamed in a way that made her look cute, rather then the fierce warrior woman image she displayed earlier, puts her hands together in front of her and gave a cute nod. “Though, careful with those pointy things, people can get hurt walking into you.”
She looked at herself, pondered a bit and stretched out, the bladed parts of her armors retracting, the long part of the skirt folding in to make it a normal mini-skirt, the bladed fan wings folding up and attaching ot her back, the bladed mane retracting to make way for a long mane of dirty blonde hair. She gave a thumbs asked with a questioning look. “I think that works…also I can’t keep calling you Sword of Gryffindor. Lots of syllables. Can we call you ‘Gryffi’ for short?” Harry asked. ‘Gryffi’ nodded and beamed again. She liked the name.
“It’s quite a sweet display.” Sorting Hat said. “But if one excuses me, I need to make up for lost time, a thousand years confined, now a thousand years of celebration. Going out in the wide world. No worries, Albus. I’ll be back anytime a Sorting is needed. I’ll make the next Sorting Ceremony a spectacle!” he said, as he gestured with theatrical awe.
“Well, you have that right, Sorting Hat.” Dumbledore said. “But I would suggest first getting used to your new form, and inform yourself a bit of the world out there. Maybe take a companion along. I think I know a group of people whom could use someone to tag along on their worldly travels.”
“That would be most delightful, Dumbledore.” Sorting Hat said.
“I quite envy you, Sorting Hat, due to my duties, even when I travel it is often for work, rarely get to do sightseeing anymore.” Dumbledore said.
“Call me Hattie. And I promise to bring souvenirs.” Hattie replied.
“That’s pleasant. Now, do you plan on traveling too, Fawkes?” Dumbledore asked.
“I am still going to be by your side Albus. I have been supporting the Dumbledores since forever, and that duty hasn’t changed. I don’t leave my humans behind.” Fawkes said as she affectionately cupped his cheeks with her hands. “I need to make sure you don’t work yourself to death after all.”
“Not that bad…” Dumbledore muttered.
“And don’t worry, I’ll also looking out for you, little ashling.” Fawkes said as she approached Harry, and gave an affectionate peck on her forehead.
“Hey, know that I’m Harry’s only bird momma!” Hedwig huffed.
“I wouldn’t dare to take that away from you. You are already taking great care of him, but I still want to merely assist in time of need.” Fawkes said as she turned to Hedwig. Compared to Hedwig she was a full head taller. “After all…the love you have burns inside you oh so brightly, and your inner song is a war cry waiting to be played when the time comes to fight for your chick.”
Hedwig now felt something else as the fellow harpy-like woman approached her. No malice, just a sense of purity and warmth, and beauty. Hedwig felt her pale skin blush, to the point the white feathers got a pink sheen. Hedwig opened her out but let out something that sounded like an owl screech and a high-pitched eep.”
“Can I ask something though? I thought you were a boy? How did the magic turn you female?” Harry asked.
“Us Phoenixes are fluid beings. Every rebirth we don’t come out exactly the same. Memories intact but always a difference in our physique. Your spell hit me with something that triggered a different sort of Burning Day.” Fawkes explained patiently.
“I think I forgot to mention that tidbit when learning you about phoenixes Harry. Though I wonder why your sisters all became of the female gender upon achieving their current forms. Hedwig kept her gender, but they didn’t have one before.” Dumbledore noted.
“Yeah, we still technically don’t have either but we chose our looks and pronouns because they feel right.” Maps said. “Besides, due to our natures we can shift ourselves whenever needed, but for now. I am comfy in the ‘big sis’ role and don’t see the need to change.” Maps explained.
“There are so much notes I could make of this…” Dumbledore noted. He then realized the implications of three more anthropomorphized objects. He needed to bring up more paperwork. “I am not sleeping this week.” He muttered softly.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Hi everyone, I’m back.” Harry said as he returned to Potter Quarters, seeing his friends.
“Hey Harry, what did the research with Dumbledore provide? Please tell me everything that you remember. I bet you learned a lot of fascinating stuff.” Hermione said giddily.
“I’ll get to that, but first I’ll introduce you to my new sister, Gryffi. Come on in, sis!” Harry said as the metallic sister stepped in. She gave a friendly wave.
“Again, Harry?” Daphne asked amused.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen, Dumbledore had a device to measure magics and stuff, it overloaded and the Sorting Hat, Fawkes and the Sword of Gryffindor got hit.” Harry explained.
“The Sword of Gryffindor. So that’s her? I see metal but I don’t see a lot of sword…” Nevill said. Gryffi replied by having her bladed parts fold out. “Whoa! She is the Sword for real. That is awesome!” Gryffi blushed a little at the praise, or they thought it was a blush due to the metal on her face becoming silvery on her cheeks. She folded her blades back in to avoid hurt.
“We are not going to see a new sister every other week, are we?” Tracey asked amused.
“I try not to. I like having a big family but I don’t need an army. It was another happy accident in this case.” Harry noted. “I’m pretty sure it won’t happen again.”
“Oh how you have tempted fate.” Luna said dreamily.
“What?” Harry asked.
“Spoilers!” Luna whispered as she went back to reading her Quibbler.
(1) Pronounced Mo-Eh-Fy, like moe, the anime/Manga genre. I’ve been waiting ages to reveal the spell.
(2) If Balan from Balan’s Wonderworld wore wizarding world fashion basically.