Did You See That?

Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I'm I doing wrong (to correct it).

Hogwarts
Charms Class

"Most interesting, Miss Ayanami." Professor Flitwick adjusted his spectacles over his nose. The class was absolutely silent for a few seconds, Professor Flitwick had asked Rei for a demonstration of the Knockback Jinx, resulting on a dummy crashing noisily against one of the walls of the classroom. "I see Mahoutokoro has a different approach to this spell. Still, it gives the desired result. To be honest, I only expected the dummy to be, well... knocked down, not thrown to the other side of the room."

"The words are very close in meaning, Professor Flitwick, for practical purposes about this spell, they are equivalent." Rei lowered her wand to her side, "Back in Japan, we just say the equivalent to Push Away, instead of Flipendo. There is a subtle difference, but the end result is more or less the same. As long as the intention is present and directed by an act of will."

"Well said, Miss Ayanami. Five points to Ravenclaw for a well explained comparison." He turned back towards the rest of the class. "Now, Miss Ayanami's demonstration leads us to a very interesting discussion about magic. The most important part in any spell you cast is not the words, not even the movements of your wand, it is simple intention. Words and movement are key to harness the power of magic in a safe way. You can have the most perfect enunciation and wand movement, but without the intention, there won't be any results."

The class continued. Professor Flitwick decided to keep the dummy as it was, as an objective lesson, to show his other classes what a variant Knockback Jinx could do, when it was powered by enough intention.

Later that day, Cho Chang looked at the pieces of the dummy, and decided not to make Ayanami angry. Ever.

Hogwarts
Transfiguration Class

Even though they knew what Trelawney's words actually meant, Harry and Shinji were a bit more shocked than they tried to look like. Not about her predictions about Harry, but about her words to Shinji.

Harry didn't know what they meant, but just the fact that they had hit Shinji worried him.

Hermione was a bit surprised at her friend. Harry usually was a very private person. And it was hard for him to make friends, yet it seemed he had accepted Shinji as one in a single day! In turn, Ron's attitude the last two days was distancing him from her and Harry. She knew Ron was very proud and jealous, and the last thing she needed was to complicate her already busy schedule with personality conflicts.

Meanwhile, Ron was still with Dean Thomas, at the back of the classroom, while Professor McGonagall lectured about Animagi. And even demonstrated what she meant, transforming herself into her tabby cat form. Not receiving the expected reactions, she returned to her human form, and asked, "Really, what's gotten into you all today? Not that it matters, but it's the first time my transformation has not gotten an applause."

Nobody said anything, but several students turned to look at Harry; and a few, at Shinji.

It was Parvati who raised her hand. "It's… hum, Professor McGonagall… we just come from Divination Class, and…"

"I see. Now, who is the unfortunate student who will die a most painful death this year?" She almost rolled her eyes.

Harry raised his hand. "I got several images in my teacup that hinted that I have a dangerous enemy lurking around, so, I guess she meant it was me. And Shinji is gonna lose an eye."

"I see, the two-for-one special offer? It's been years since the last time she predicted two gruesome fates to the same class, and they were twins. So far, none of this select group has died, not even been grievously harmed. So you two will not be excused from homework." She pursed her lips before continuing. "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic, and a true seer is rare." She then considered the matter closed. "Now, shall we continue?"

The class nodded.

Professor McGonagall couldn't help but notice that somehow, Trelawney might have nailed it. Probably by simple chance.

Harry did have a dangerous enemy.

Sirius Black.

Hogwarts
Charms Class

At the end of the class, Professor Flitwick asked Rei to stay a couple of minutes, "I assure you, Miss Ayanami; you are not in any kind of trouble, I just want to ask you a couple of questions."

Rei nodded, and asked, "Could you give me a slip for my next class? I do not want a tardiness mark, Professor Flitwick."

"Of course, Miss Ayanami." Immediately, he put quill to parchment. "Here you go. Now, I couldn't help but notice the workmanship of your wand, very unusual. May I see it more closely?" he adjusted his eyeglasses over his nose.

Rei blinked twice, and pulled her wand from its holster, keeping it in the palm of her hand. "Here it is, Professor." Flitwick didn't take it, just looked at it carefully.

"Amazing work! I had never seen this kind of finish. I can't even recognize the wood it is made of." He looked at her, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "Miss Akagi has a beautiful wand too, with small cherry blossoms carved on the wood, but yours is both more simple and more complex."

"Akagi?" She had not expected to find that name in England, of all places.

"A Seventh Year Gryffindor, Sakura Akagi. Not particularly gifted in Charms, but amazing with Arithmancy, I've been told." (1)

"I see. I wonder if she's related to an acquaintance from Japan." Could there be a doppelganger of Ritsuko or Naoko Akagi in this world, she wondered.

"Who knows? You would have to ask her. She´s a Gryffindor. Seventh Year." Flitwick shrugged, and continued examining Rei's wand. "Very curious shape… Like two spirals twisting around each other. And those two sharp prongs at the base… is there any particular meaning?"

Rei wasn't willing to explain about Longinus' Lance to anybody in this universe, so she simply said, "There might be a meaning I am not aware of. The design is very old. But not well known."

"And the wood?"

Rei hesitated for a brief moment. "Vine and yew, one for each spiral."

Flitwick paled for a moment. "A portentous combination… After seeing your prowess with the Knockback Jinx, I would have expected a cherry wood wand. I am sure you must have been top of your class in Mahoutokoro." he wiped his forehead. "Could you tell me what the core is, if it's not too much to ask?"

"Thestral hair. Freely given."

"Oh, my… you have a very unusual wand, Miss Ayanami."

"It has been said so before."

"Well… I don't want to keep you from your next class."

"I would appreciate if you keep this to yourself, Professor."

"Of course, Miss Ayanami, my lips are sealed." He recovered his composure, adjusting his robes with a sharp movement. "Thank you."

Rei bowed respectfully, turned around, and left the classroom, her slip in hand.

While the next class arrived, Flitwick wiped his forehead again. 'Vine and yew…together, two of the rarest woods for a wand…' he shuddered. He had an ominous feeling about Miss Ayanami's wand. He would have to check his Wandlore Through the World book to be sure, but if he was right…

If he was right, Miss Ayanami would grow to be a very powerful witch, and very dangerous to cross. (2)

He resolved to do everything in his power to guide her to be a force for good. For the moment, he better pay attention to his next class.

Hogwarts
Argus Filch's Office

"What the hell do you want, Lupin?" Hogwarts caretaker grumbled, lowering his paper.

"I want a confiscated object, Filch." Remus Lupin answered, a bit more testy than usual, but the lack of sleep was having an impact in his behaviour.

"Back for your old toys, uh? Couldn't wait for a day more?" Filch stood up, some beligerancy in his movements. His cat, Mrs. Norris, hissed at Lupin from behind a chair. Lupin paid no attention to her, though Filch scratched behind her ears, without taking his eyes off Lupin, just in case he decided to try something. "I guess now that you're part of the faculty, you'll demand I return all your stuff, uh?"

"No." Lupin sighed. "You were right to confiscate those things."

Filch stared at him for a long moment. Finally, he snorted sarcastically.

Lupin continued. "I just want the piece of blank parchment you took from Peter. That's the only thing I want back. You still have it?"

Filch snorted again. "I put it with everything else. Must be somewhere here." He walked towards the back of the cluttered room. When Lupin tried to follow him, Filch glared at him. "You'll wait here. I'll get the damn thing myself."

Mrs. Norris jumped to the top of a cabinet, and glared at the DADA teacher with the same intensity of her master.

Several minutes passed, Lupin leaned back onto Filch's desk, while the cat watched him like a hawk. He could have sworn the cat was an Auror animagus, watching a suspect. Waiting for the right moment to pounce. In case of the cat, literally.

Minutes later, Filch returned. "It's not here." He growled.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure! I know where everything is in this place."

Lupin passed a hand over his hair. "If you find it, let me know. I have to pick up a crate at Hogsmeade."

"Yeah, sure." Filch sat again and continued his reading. "I'll look for it when I have time."

Only after Lupin had gone, he stood up again, and began a meticulous search for the missing parchment. "Could'a sworn I put it here…" He shrugged and began to empty the drawer. It was marked "Confiscated and Highly Dangerous". It would be a long process, as some of the magical items stored there could get very volatile with time.

Mrs. Norris watched him from her place on the cabinet.

London
Horace Slughorn's House
Dining Room

The retired, and very rotund, Professor Horace Eugene Flaccus Slughorn, was busy at his table, still working methodically on his breakfast, a pantagruelic banquet by any standard. The capacity of his stomach could only be compared to Ronald Weasley's in later years. But his table manners were impeccable.

A ding brought his attention out of his favourite dessert, crystalized pineapple. "Bigby? Let the mail owls in, please." He said. "And be so kind to give them some treats before sending them back, will you?"

In another room, an old house elf snapped his fingers, and a flock of very different owls entered the hothouse at the back of the house. Bigby proceeded to pop there, and take the envelopes and small or shrunk packages they carried.

Once the owls had been properly rewarded for their service, Bigby checked each and every envelope and package, looking for any spells, potions, poisons, or any other thing that could disturb his master's digestion.

By the time Slughorn finished his dessert, Bigby was ready to deliver the mail. He put it on his master's desk, to be read at his pleasure.

Eventually, Slughorn found a letter from one of his best students. "Bernard Cribbins! Oh, goodness! It's been years since last I heard of him!"

He opened the letter, and began to read. "Hmm… Hmm… Oh. Poor kid." He tapped his fingers over the surface of the desk. "Good student… maybe I can offer him a part-time job in the meanwhile…"

He took a quill and parchment, and began to compose his answer. "Hello, Mr. Cribbins." He wrote. "In answer to your letter, I must sadly inform you that, for the time being, I haven't heard of any employer in need of your most excellent services. I'll ask some friends, immediately. I know it is below your capabilities, as you were a very apt student, but I do find myself in need of a competent helper for preparing ingredients for a side-business I delve into from time to time."

He then detailed his needs and offer of payment. It wasn't much, but it would coast Cribbins while his Slug Club contacts found a proper job for the man.

"Hopefully, this will help you pass the time while a worthy job manifests."

And he signed with a flourish. "Your friend and mentor, H. E. F. Slughorn. P.M. "

He folded the sheet of parchment, pressed some sealing wax with his signet ring, and rang a silver bell. Bigby popped in a second later. "Bigby, send these letters with the evening owl."

The elf bowed, took the letters, and popped off.

Author Notes:

(1) There is a Sakura Akagi in the PS2 game for Prisoner of Azkaban, but there is very little information about her. For this fic, she is a remote relative of Ritsuko Akagi. She has never met anybody from that branch of the family, as her own family has been living in England for several generations. And yes, if she was a muggle, she would be working with computers.

(2) According to the data I found, vine wands are very unusual, their owners tend to look for a greater purpose, have a vision beyond the ordinary, and astound even those who think they know them best. Hermione Granger's wand is made of vine.
Yew is even rarer; they tend to match with unusual individuals. And to top it off, yew wands are reputed to endow the owner with power over life and death. A yew wand will never choose a mediocre or timid owner. Both Voldemort and Ginny Weasley had yew wands.
Thestral hair is not used by Olivander (who only uses dragon heartstring, unicorn hair, and phoenix feather for the cores of his wands), possibly because a wand with this kind of core can only be mastered by somebody who is able to face death.