Chapter 44

The next few days went by more or less easily. Without having Magnus Gamp to tutor me, I effectively had a lot of time to myself to focus on my own training. I decided to use that time to read up on Alchemy, using both the Craftsman's Tradition and Nicholas Flamel's Notes that he had given me. This it turned out, was a good idea because a lot of the stuff that Magnus Gamp had me doing for Alchemy was apparently based entirely on the way the Subject used to be taught as a Hogwarts Elective when he was in school. That way, according to Nicholas Flamel's notes, wasn't the most efficient way to do things. Especially in regard to how the substitution tables worked.

Magnus Gamp had shown me the tables and had me memorize them, largely because rote memorization was how Hogwarts used to teach Alchemy as an elective. It didn't explain why the tables were set up like they were or any of the underlying principles. Nicholas Flamel's notes, on the other hand, did. There were two concepts that any alchemist had to learn if they wanted to truly master the art. One was a more general magical principle, which was normally applied to enchantment, but which also applied to Alchemy while the other was an Alchemical Principle first and foremost.

The first, general, Magical Principle was the Sympathetic Principle of Magic. I had made use of that to create the Tebo-Bone Disillusionment Rings for my friends, but generally, the more similar something already was to what you wanted to do, the easier it would be to get the result you wanted. That was why Tebo Bone had provided the best base for the Disillusionment Ring and why the Rune of Thor could grant strength or put out an electric discharge. It was why the wand movements for the Protego spell evoked the shape of a shield and why Salamander Blood was the active ingredient in the Fire Protection Potion. It was why it was easier to transfigure inanimate objects into other inanimate objects and why Conjuration was extremely difficult, as making something from nothing required you to bypass this principle entirely.

The second, Specifically Alchemical Principle was one that was more philosophical than anything else but served to explain how the Sympathetic Principle of Magic worked the way that it did. As I read the Principle, I had to let out a laugh. They really were ripping off an Anime that didn't exist yet for parts of how Alchemy worked here, huh? Somebody might want to call up the Universe and complain to its manager. Or maybe it was just the way things tended to be across the cosmos? Either way, it was funny, at least when you had the proper perspective to actually get the joke.

"All is one and one is all, huh? I guess some things stay the same even across universes. If I have to start doing human sacrifice to create a Philosopher's Stone though, I'm gonna lose it." I chuckled.

Not that I thought that was the case, mind you. If that was the secret of Philosopher's Stones here, then there was no way there would only be two Alchemists since the founding of Wizarding Britain who'd ever managed to make one. You'd think something like that would be the sort of thing that Voldemort wouldn't bat an eye at doing. Hell, from the way people talk about Voldemort's War, you'd think that killing random people to grab just a little bit more power would be something he'd do every Tuesday.

Reading on, it seemed that the Tables they had you memorize at Hogwarts were, effectively, just a standardized set of tables for substitutions, but if you combined the two Principles, that of the Sympathetic Principle and All Is One and One Is All, the combinations of ingredients and their effects were theoretically endless. The reason that the Universal Solvent was used to illustrate this by Hogwarts was because it already got the students in the right frame of mind for such an undertaking. Really, when you understood the underlying principles, you could take it even further than the lesson already showed.

I proved this by substituting Iron Flakes for Flobberworm Mucus and Death's Head Hawk Moth Wings for Knarl Grease. This should create an oil that turned whatever it was splashed on into Iron, even living creatures, which was something that the Hardening Charm couldn't do, turn living creatures into Stone, even though it could do so to non-living creatures. Of course, to do this, I had to use up some of my Silver Points to book time with Professor Snape for experimentation since that was the only way I would be able to get access to the proper facilities.

Snape was doubtful, but spent points were spent points and he had to honor the system, or else the Dorms would probably toss him out on his Arse. The Castle did sometimes have a mind of its own like that, after all. Of course, this only meant he was even more serious about safety than normal.

"If this must be done, it will be done properly or not at all. Firstly, you will go through the process you have worked out with me beforehand. If it is not technically sound enough to my liking, I will not hesitate to shut down this session and the points you have spent will be wasted. Secondly, observe lab safety protocols at all times. I will have no accidents because you decided to be a dunderhead instead of paying attention. Finally, when I say to stop, you will stop. No questions will be entertained on that point. Failure to heed any of these points will result in me shutting down this experiment and your points will be wasted. Am I clear?" Listed off Snape.

"As Crystal Professor." I nodded.

"Very well. Now what is the process you have uncovered for how you imagine this will work?" Questioned Snape.

So I told him. He asked a few questions as I went through the process, mostly about how I knew about such Alchemical Principles. Once I'd told him it had come from Nicholas Flamel, though, he stopped questioning me. Say what you will about Snape being a man who bullied children and threw in with Voldemort because a Girl he liked didn't like him back, but the man knew his field and respected those masters who had reached the heights before him enough to not question them. It did prove that Dumbledore hadn't mentioned that Nicholas Flamel had done anything more than take back the Philosopher's Stone from me the other day, though. Eventually, however, my process was outlined fully and Snape had to judge whether or not it was good enough to continue.

"I see you have thought this through properly. Very well, I will allow you to continue under my supervision." Acknowledged Snape after a moment.

"You will?" I queried.

"Indeed. If you are working off of the notes of Nicholas Flamel, then I can hardly find the process dunderheaded." Nodded Snape.

"Thank you, Professor!" I grinned.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Mister Zabini. We have work to do. Gloves and Goggles first." Scoffed Snape.

I tugged on the Dragonhide Gloves and Enchanted Crystal Goggles that had been provided with the expenditure of Silver Points and Snape cast the Bubblehead Charm on both of us before we got to work. The process was slow, taking a couple of hours, but no mishaps happened and eventually, we wound up with a cauldron of a slightly shiny, gray, liquid. With that, we proceeded to the first test. Snape grabbed a pair of iron tongs and grabbed a cork with them, dipping it into the liquid. When it entered the liquid, there was a flash as some of the liquid sublimated and Snape pulled out the cork, revealing that it had turned to iron from the liquid. Ten minutes later, and it was joined by an iron strip of cloth, an iron patch of leather, an iron piece of wood, an iron brick, an iron rock, an iron knut, an iron sickle, an iron galleon, and an iron apple.

There was just enough potion left in the cauldron for the final, and most difficult test. Professor Snape went over to a cage filled with live mice that had been purchased at my expense from Argus Filch, whose Cat, Mrs. Norris, acted as a part-time Mouser for the castle and often brought live mice to Filch as 'gifts'. Apparently, filch did a decent bit of side business selling the mice Mrs. Norris caught him to various Wizards who were seeking test subjects for magical experiments.

Regardless, Snape grabbed one of the mice with the Iron Tongs, snatching it up even as it tried to scurry away and returned to the Cauldron. It was time for the moment of truth, could this be used on living things? Snape dunked the Mouse into the liquid, there was a flash of light and the sublimation of the remaining liquid in the cauldron, and we got our answer. Sitting in plain view at the bottom of the now-empty cauldron, was an iron mouse. The solution worked on everything.

As we worked, Snape's frown gradually vanished, turning into a more neutral expression, before finally turning into an expression that was thoughtful. He turned to me on seeing the Mouse had turned to iron and the look in his eye was one that, I wouldn't say was greedy per se, but it wasn't exactly not greedy either.

"Do you have any idea what this means?" He questioned.

"I have some inkling yes." I nodded.

"I wonder. You realize that provided these stay this way, this solution could prove a decent way to replace the need for imported iron from Magical Sweden?" Queried Snape.

"The thought had crossed my mind, yes. I don't just think of things that are in front of me, you know, Professor. This wasn't just a way to be able to turn my enemies into iron statues." I joked.

"Indeed. Still, this will have to be patented, provided these objects and this mouse do not revert to their original forms. At the same time, safeguards will need to be invented and patented as well. I very much doubt that the Ministry will approve of the patent for use in Magical Industry if there is no way to guard against accidents." Pressed Snape.

"Sensible of them, Professor. I wouldn't have expected that of the Ministry after what happened with the Goblins." I opined.

"Yes, well, the Patent Office of the International Magical Trading Standards Body is not as filled with Dunderheads as some others. It's not considered important enough for Pureblood Scions seeking careers in the Ministry to be placed in, nor would any Wizards with large commercial holdings be willing to see it filled with people such as Madame Umbridge." Intoned Snape, practically sneering Umbridge's Name.

"I'll bet. That would hurt their bottom line." I smirked.

"Quite. Now, come with me. I will show you how to fill out the patent application. As I was supervising, I will be credited on the patent as co-inventor. I trust you have no issue with that?" Asked Snape.

I didn't, and we spent the rest of the allotted experimentation time going over the ways to patent such potions. If by the end of next week, none of the objects or the mouse reverted back to their normal form, Snape and I would fill out the application and send it to the Ministry by Owl. This could revolutionize Industry in Magical Britain. A lot of things required Iron, after all, and while we didn't use as much as the Muggles did, we still imported a fair bit from Magical Sweden for our own use. This stood to make me even richer if the patent got to be filed, and would stand to make Snape a boatload of money as well since his name would also be on the forms. Apparently, he hadn't been able to do much in the way of experimentation of his own, since the stipend he got from Hogwarts was barely sufficient for one or two experiments a year, as well as all of his normal expenses.

Until that point, however, I was supposed to be trying to figure out a countermeasure against the potion, something that Snape would be checking my progress on daily. Fortunately, by the time My Birthday rolled around on Friday, I had managed to find a method that worked written in the Craftsman's Tradition. An Anti-Transformation Enchantment that could be put onto safety gear to avoid accidents. Supposedly, it had been invented by the Ancient Greek Hero and Wizard Perseus, who had used the Enchantment on his Shield to be able to slay Medusa the Gorgon, one of the very few Magical Beings capable of Turning Living Beings into stone.

The Gorgons were all dead by the time the Romans conquered Greece, though, and since everything else used Normal Petrification, which had other, already established, remedies, the spell had been lost to the general public. The Craftsman's Tradition had a copy of the enchantment formula, however, because, of course, it did. These questionnaire tomes were cheats, after all. I was betting there was the hidden knowledge to forging objects of Goblin Silver in here somewhere, I just wasn't ready to learn it yet.

Aside from that, Classes were relatively boring, with Herbology being revision for next month's finals and Professor McGonagall largely having given up on teaching us anything too strenuous due to still pulling double duty as the Defense Professor. Only in Astronomy did we learn much new, and that was mostly theory about Eclipses, as there was supposed to be an Eclipse that would be visible the summer between our Fourth and Fifth Years, three days after the end of term. Apparently, there were certain rituals that could be done under an eclipse that would vastly increase your magical power, control over your magic, and so on.

Apparently, the most potent of these required an adult Wizard's worth of blood as a sacrifice but could give you the power of two Wizards. Meanwhile, to get an equivalent amount of magical control simply required the sacrifice of a Bull. The former was a Dark Ritual, however, and would not be taught at Hogwarts, since it not only required a human sacrifice but one to Fenrir, the Wolf of Ragnarok of Norse Myth. Meanwhile, the second one required the person sacrificing to be able to Speak Sumerian, as it was an ancient sacrifice to Nanna-Suen, the Sumerian God of the Moon. That ritual would also not be taught at Hogwarts, since they did not teach the Sumerian Language here.

There were others that would be taught, the Ritual of Artemis' Skill was one, it required the sacrifice of a hunted animal that was not caught using magic under the Eclipse, but would increase the Magical Control of the supplicant by one and a half times what it was previously and only required the Supplicant to speak Greek. There was also the Ritual of Ba'al Hammon's Might, which would do the same for the Supplicant's Magical Power. That required the sacrifice of something of great sentimental value under the Eclipse, but fortunately, did not require the Supplicant to speak Punic to enact. Instead, Greek or Latin could be used.

"Both of these can be taught starting in your third year, if you ask for them." Informed Professor Sinistra.

"Professor, what about if we speak Sumerian? Would you teach us the Ritual of Nanna-Suen's Wisdom then?" Questioned Hermione.

"Perhaps if you could prove it to my satisfaction, Miss Granger. However, Sumerian is a complex language and I am not entirely certain that you'll be able to grasp it by the time the Eclipse happens." Frowned Professor Sinistra.

"But if we did? And can prove it?" Queried Hermione.

"Then I suppose I would agree." Allowed Professor Sinistra.

"Sounds like Hermione's got something she plans to learn." Mused Millie from nearby.

"We might want to follow her example. After all, it would only help." I mused.

"Agreed. I think learning the Ritual of Nanna-Suen's Wisdom and the Ritual of Ba'al Hamon's Might would put us at a great advantage from Fifth Year forward." Nodded Daphne.

"Daphne, you read my mind." I smirked.

"Oh no." Muttered Ron.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"You're gonna make us all do that, aren't you?" Questioned Ron.

"Why is that a bad thing?" Queried Harry.

"Harry, Mate. It's more schoolwork and not the fun kind." Pointed out Ron.

"I think you're too hung up on the work bit and not the extra power and control bit." Insisted Parvati.

"Besides, think of it this way, at least with extra power and control, it'll be harder for blokes to pick on you." Tried Neville.

"Neville, blokes don't pick on me now." Deadpanned Ron.

"It's fine Ron. You don't have to learn it if you don't want to." Insisted Hannah.

"I wanna hear that from Blaise." Demanded Ron.

"I agree. I'm not looking to make anyone do anything they don't want to." I shrugged.

"Yeah, we'll just be over here with our extra abilities, showing you up." Smirked Terry.

"Yeah, I've got no issues showing you up if you're gonna be a doylem like that." Concurred Susan.

Soon enough, however, class was over and we were dismissed back to our dorms. That was all she wrote for classes the first week of April. I didn't bother going to Clubs, since nobody would duel me in Dueling Club and Snape had canceled Potions Club to keep an eye on our Experiment. The Cross-House Study Group was being replaced by my Birthday Party as well. I thought that was odd, considering my Birthday was Friday and not Saturday, but I figured it was a time issue for everyone rather than anything else.

Aside from my Alchemical Training and Experimentation in my own time, and looking for a counter to the Iron Solution, I mostly spent my downtime training the Mind Arts. Occlumency, Leglimency, Empathy, Psychometry, Oneiromancy, and the Dead Moment all got large chunks of time, and Remote Viewing got a lesser chunk of time. It was amazing how much you could do when all but one of your classes were perfunctory. I'd moved onto an entirely new set of exercises with the first two out of Zorian's Notes, requiring me to split my concentration into two separate halves while in my Dreamscape and effectively duel myself. Just visualizing the new exercise also trained my Oneiromancy, but it took me a couple of days to actually get the exercise down. Supposedly, this method of training would help push past any plateaus fairly quickly, as it functioned as a sort of metaphorical experience simulator for mental battles. You defended with Occlumency and attacked with Leglimency. I only really managed to get it figured out on night three well enough to actually train.

The night before my birthday, I took my Bluemoon Grass Elixir, frowning as the foul-tasting concoction went down my gullet. The Bluemoon Grass Elixir would start giving me the ability to use the spells by September. Until then, I'd have to deal with the taste. That done, I headed off to bed, expecting to wind up in my Dreamscape for more of that training.

Suffice it to say, I did not expect what happened next as my head hit the pillow and I found my Oneiromancy co-opted by a power far greater than myself. . .

XXXX

Instead of my Dreamscape, I found myself in a palatial estate in Ancient Roman Style. The walls were painted in frescoes, while the floor was tiled in mosaics of different-colored marble. Marble columns accented with gold filigree held up the ceiling. Looking up, I saw the roof was tiled as well with various decorative mosaics. At the end of the hall, two double doors sat with glass window panes that bright light shone through. The windowpanes were framed in gold and gave the light a sort of warm glow about it.

I wandered through the hall, through the double doors, and out into a room that looked like a throne room. Marble columns of expensive Italian marble held up a ceiling accented with mosaics in jet and amber. In the very center of the ceiling sat a glass window with a silver frame, allowing sunlight to peer through. At the end of the throne room, a large golden throne sat, cloaked in red silk and engraved with an image of a Woman holding a cornucopia and wreath standing next to a wheel. The woman had a blindfold over her eyes. Looking to the right, I saw the entrance of a room filled with gold coins, gold statues, and other signs of wealth and prosperity. Looking to the left, I saw a crypt filled with the bones of dead people, all of which looked to have died of misfortune, judging by the broken bits of bone.

When I looked back in front of me, I saw her. A Brunette Woman in a flowing, white, Roman Stola embroidered with cloth of gold was now seated on the throne. She looked flawless, her hair was silky, her skin smooth and blemish-free, and though she wore a blindfold, she was tracking my presence like she could see me. As she saw that I had noticed her, she gave me a small smile and nodded at me.

Between the frescoes, the throne, the blindfold, the date, and everything else, I knew exactly who this was. Fortuna, the Ancient Roman Goddess of Luck. It had to be. What I couldn't figure out was what the treasury and the crypt were for. I suppose it didn't matter. If she wanted me to know, she'd let me know.

"They are the Chambers of Good and Ill Luck respectively. Many are those whose lives have been altered for good or ill thanks to the contents of those rooms." Spoke up Fortuna as if sensing my question.

"I see. Ave Fortuna." I nodded, respectfully.

"Greetings, my Favored. I am sure you have questions, but we have little time. There is time enough to indulge some, however. No more than four, though. This is a boon I grant to you on my Feast Day." Offered Fortuna.

"All right, Favored? What's that about?" I asked.

"Surely you did not think you came here of your own volition? The Fates were responsible for bringing you here, but it was I who granted you the abilities you possess. The Fates were simply seeking to balance out changes in this timeline. They do so love their balance, everything needed to be as was decreed. Unfortunately, those three have been Gods since before the Titans and have forgotten that if they wish a Mortal to succeed when the balance has already been altered, they have to give him boons. That is when I granted you my favor. The Questionnaire you filled out proved perfect for that, though it has limited you in some ways even as it helped you in others." Admitted Fortuna.

"What's wrong with the Balance that I'm meant to fix?" I questioned next.

"You did not think that a timeline such as this, so different from the norm would have a happy ending with Harry Potter as uncurious of different magics as he was in the prime version of this timeline, did you? The Boy only had a few spells he used in most of his duels and battles. Expeliarmus is his go-to, for example. However, this version of this particular reality has so much more magic to offer. In the timeline that would be without your intervention, Voldemort would kill him and succeed in ruling over Wizarding Britain. He would spread his rule to the continent, though he would be stopped after conquering Europe and North Africa. Not before discovering how to cross between universes, however. By doing so, he would become the problem of every universe, massively destabilizing the Fates' precious timeline. You are here to see it does not come to that." Explained Fortuna.

"All right, but what about the recurring vision I keep getting? That I can't save them all?" I queried.

"That was the Fates warning you. Because of the questionnaire you filled out, and the choices that you took, one of your friends will die, though the Fates have not settled on who just yet. I believe they wish to see the outcome of your actions before choosing. Before you ask, no, you cannot prevent this." Informed Fortuna.

"Well, I'm damned sure going to try!" I growled.

"And that is why you are Favored by me. To know one's Fate yet still struggle against it is a noble act in and of itself. However, there is little time for admiration. Dreams are a realm between worlds, time is not always congruent here with the waking world, as you well know. Our time grows short and I can only allow you one more question for now." Insisted Fortuna.

"What is going to be most pressing next year?" I asked.

"You may think the Diary or the Basilisk is most pressing, and you would be correct. However, a close third is Gilderoy Lockhart. He is more than he seems, even aside from the secrets he held the first go around. He is not just talented at memory charms here, but Dark Arts as well, though he keeps such capabilities secret. Do not fall into the trap of believing him the harmless buffoon he was in the main timeline." Warned Fortuna.

"I won't. Thank you." I bowed.

"See that you do not. I have a bet going with Bacchus that you will prevail, you know. I would hate to give anyone the impression they could win a wager against me. It's hardly good for business." Smirked Fortuna.

"I'll keep that in mind." I chuckled.

"One last thing before you leave. I shall see you again every year on this night in your dreams. If you have questions that cannot be answered any other way, do not hesitate to ask me then. Until next year, farewell, My Favored." Intoned Fortuna.

And with that, I found myself waking up on the morning of my birthday, prepared for my run on the Metamorphing Mandragora. I would take a shot at it this evening under the cover of my Family Concealment Cloak. Until then, it was time for breakfast and then a bit of practice with my anti-plant spells. Hopefully, I would be ready for this evening's run.

If I wasn't this was going to be the worst birthday ever. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here's the next chapter, featuring a visitation from the Goddess Fortuna, the Roman Goddess of Luck. During that visitation, we finally get a reason for why Blaise is here as a Self-Insert. He's here to help make sure Voldemort doesn't wind up becoming a menace by learning how to access other Universes. In this version of the Potterverse, Harry failed, after all. Or would fail. Time is tricky when speaking about things like this.

There's more that Fortuna didn't say, of course. But then, she's a literal Goddess, so that's her prerogative. You guys can rest assured that she'll tell Blaise the rest of it when she thinks he's ready. Until then, he gets to speak with her every night on his Birthday, where he can ask questions of her, even ones that would otherwise break the plot, such as the one where she told him not to underestimate this version of Lockhart based on what he knows of the canon timeline.

At any rate, the next chapter will feature the adventure in the overgrown greenhouse and the attempt to gain a cutting of the Metamorphing Mandragora. Then we'll have Blaise's Birthday bash, before speeding things up with one last time-skippy chapter before the end of the School Year.

Stay tuned. . .