Man in the Mirror
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 8
Arithmancy was not Sasporillas best class nor was it her favorite but she was convinced that somewhere in the jumble of numbers and calculations sat the answer to her theories on harmonic resonance between wands and their users. The professor, Mr.McQuiggin was a funny little man with no hair and coke bottle glasses. He was a patient with her but knew she had no passion for the art.
"I hope you have all done your assignments?" Professor McQuiggin asked rhetorically. "The break down of ones name into it's arithmantic elements. Let's start with..."
Many hands went up. The one hand that did not was that of Sasporilla Bucket, the girl turned into a boy who now dressed as a girl.
"Ms.Bucket?" Professor McQuiggin smiled. "Please enlighten us with your calculations to show us who you are, what numbers represent you and why up on the black board please, and don't forget to show your work."
name: SASPORILLA BUCKET
Character#:1117699331 233252= 58 --> 5+8 = 13 --> 1+3 = 4
Heart#: 1 6 9 1 3 5 = 25 --> 2+5 = 7
Social#:1 17 9 33 2 32 2= 33 --> 3+3 = 6
"Well Ms.Bucket," Professor McQuiggin said. "It seems you have been paying attention after all! Your calculation is accurate. Spot on! 5 points for Hufflepuff. Now would you like to explain the results to the class?"
"Yes professor." Sassy said getting her book ready to read off the results.
"No Ms.Bucket." Professor McQuiggin said closing her book. "I want to see that you understand the results you've calculated."
"Yes sir." Sasporilla said facing the room. "My character number was calculated at four. This means I'm very stable, firm and stubborn. I'm hard working, practical, reliable and down to earth. I'm organized and get things done. I tend to be logical but have a temper when someone ticks me off."
"I could have told you all that without the maths." Karry laughed.
"Who slapped her opponent during the dueling tournament?" Sasporilla asked.
"Fair enough." Karry surrendered.
"Enough ladies." Professor McQuiggin. "Continue Ms.Bucket."
"My Heart number is seven. This number indicates I'm Scholarly, perceptive, understanding, and bright, and enjoy challenges and mysteries. Originality and imagination are more important to me than material possessions and money. Also indicates I'm pessimistic, sarcastic, and a bit insecure."
"My social number is six the number of Harmony, friends and family. The most important things in my life. Six indicates I'm loyal, reliable, and loving. Good at the arts and not much good at business."
Professor McQuiggin applauded. "Absolutely perfect Ms.Bucket five more points for Hufflepuff."
"Thank you sir." Sasporilla said proudly taking her seat beside Karry.
"Teachers pet." Karry smiled elbowing her friend.
"Ah our next volunteer." Professor McQuiggen said. "Ms.Curtiss, you're up!"
**********************
Hamid Frakash had many items touched by dark magic in his home. Things he had taken from muggles who had run afoul of their discovery. That was his job in the retrieval of magical artifacts from muggle procurement within the Ministry of magic. Some of these items were just what a witch with her powers removed needed to make her way in the world. Korona Portemp was that witch.
She had found enough Muggle money in his home to get where ever she needed to and stay in comfort as she formulated a plan to get her power back. Korona Portemp walked out of Frakash's home and pretended to lock the door as she struggled with her luggage. The cab driver, who sat waiting for her, got out of bis cab and helped the young blonde woman with her bags.
"Where are you headed Missus?" The cabbie asked.
"Cardiff Central station." Korona smiled brightly.
"Going on vacation?" The cabbie asked.
"Going to Scotland to visit a friend of my niece." Korona said honestly.
"Lovely." The cabbie said putting her bags in the boot. "I think I'm running a bit late, an extra twenty in it for you if you get me to the trains on time."
"Hold on to your kerchief Missus." The driver said peeling out and speeding away.
***************************
After lunch Karry and Zac headed off to their class in teaching magical skills. Sasporilla had Imbuing, a class which taught how to make ordinary items magical, by enchanting them with spells.
Professor Jacobi was a middle aged man with long white hair, tied back in a pony tail, and a short nicely trimmed dark beaded. He was a very laid back professor who never gave study assignments and let you work at your own pace. He took the time to listen and help, only ever asking the same courtesies in return.
"Anyone here play guitar?" The professor asked.
Sasporilla Bucket raised her hand.
"Right on man," the professor smiled, "We'll have to jam some time, but that's not why I asked. Tuning!"
Professor Jacobi drew a line on the board with a very rough looking tuning key on the end.
"To tune your strings you twist the key." He said drawing a circle with an arrow around the keys top and an arrow on the line pointing towards the key end. "Turning the key tightens the string. As the string tightens or loosens its pitch and frequency change."
"The same as a wand core." Sasporilla said.
"Yes!" The professor did a dance unable to contain his excitement. "Now tuning a wand, though the same is also different. Can you tell me how and why?"
"The guitar plays music and the wand makes magic." Sasporilla smiled.
"Actually one could say that they are both just tools to let the person who uses them make the magic." Professor Jacobi smiled.
"Well said Professor." Sasporilla smiled in agreement. "When a guitar string is tune it can be played alone but works best when all of the strings are in tune. They resonate together when played as chords and sound nice. I know that the same is true for wands but the tuned core, though it harmonizes in resonance with the woods, metals and crystals of the wand it's not as readily seen or hear as in a guitar."
"Well done Bucket dude!" The professor giving his student a high five. "Five points to Hufflepuff man! You totally get it!"
"Thank you sir." Sasporilla said. "Wands are my passion."
'They're Karrys too'. The voice of Zac ran through her head. She could see Myrons face as he broke up laughing. Frankly she was surprised at Myron Wagtail for laughing at such a crude double entandre. It was unlike him.
"Now can anyone tell me the difference between TUNING and ATTUNEING?" Professor Jacobi asked.
No one moved.
"They are both the same, and at the same time, very different." Professor Jacobi said. "Attune - To harmonize an item with it's user. If you tune your guitar, anyone can pick it up and play it. If you Attune your guitar, only YOU can pick it up and play it."
Professor Jacobi scanned the class to see who got it and who didn't. Most didn't but some seemed to have a bit of a clue but Sasporilla Buckets eyes sparkled with understanding.
"Like a Triumphant 1200x!" Sasporilla said. "Only its owner can ride it!"
"You are correct Sir Bucket of dude!" The professor laughed. "Do you fly?"
"Yes." Sasporilla said. "I flew around the world last summer."
"Alone?" The professor asked.
"Yes." Sassy smiled shyly. "From Hogwarts across Europe and Asia to Canada and back to school."
"Wow dude." Professor Jacobi nodded. "You're hard core man."
"Thanks." Sassy smiled.
"The process of Attuning requires three things." Professor Jacobi said. "An item you wish to attune, the person with which the item is to be attuned to, and A gem imbued with a soul mirror spell,"
Sasporilla scribbled furiously in her note book then in a small journal she carried in her robes.
"Now for those of you who truly get it," Professor Jacobi said. "Read chapter 9 of your text book then come up and take a gem you want to imbue with a soul mirror spell. Tomorrow bring an item with you. We will be attuning it. For the rest, back of the class and we'll take it a bit slower."
After class Sasporilla was called to the office of the Headmistress. By the time the young wizard with pink hair arrived, a heated discussion was under way between Professors McGonagall, Amari, Slughorn and Sprout.
"Come in please Mr. Bu...Miss Buc." Professor McGonagall stammered. "Oh just come in and take a seat."
"There are several potions that we could try to return her to normal." Professor Slughorn insisted. "The most common being these being Elbeperminentia."
"Elbeperminentia." Professor Amari snorted with derision. "That potion will interact badly with the curse. It will leave her a disfigured mess at best half one sex and half the other, at the worst a multicolored hunchback with claws a fur."
The debate went on for hours. Every idea that was brought forth was just as quickly put down again by Professor Amaris vast expertise in the interactions of dark magic.
"What about a dark magic spell that does something like Elbeperminentia?" Sasporilla mused.
Sassy had barely gotten the words out when Professor Amari was across the room and grabbed her hard by the chin, turning her gaze up to meet the professors scary eyes that began to glow as red dots suspended in blackness.
"Never consider a dark magic option." Professor Amari insisted. "Its corruptions will stain your young pure soul and take you down a path you will not dare want to walk."
"What about Elf magic?" Professor Sprout asked.
"That is an interesting suggestion." Headmistress McGonagall said enthusiastically.
"Yes." Professor Amari agreed. "That might just work."
"Sasporilla dear." Professor Sprout said. "Do you think you can do it."
"What could she do?" Professor Amari asked.
"Our Sasporilla is part elf and starting to get a handle on some of her wandless powers." Professor Sprout said proudly.
"What!" Professor Amari said rushing at Sasporilla with her Thoroascope. She flicked in the green and gold lenses. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
"What is it professor?" Sasporilla asked.
"I fear by destroying the gem and locking casters power in physical form it may have blocked all possibilities of help from elven sources."
"But if you hadn't I'd be stuck this way forever and die old in ten years." Sasporilla said.
"Yes." Professor Amari said.
"Then thank you for that at the very least, buying me time." Sasporilla said.
"You are a very bright light in a dark world Sasporilla Bucket." Amari said. "In most ways it sickens me."
"Well at least I should try the elven option." Sasporilla said snapping her fingers.
She began to vibrate. Her form shifted and change in a vibrating blur. The professors gasped as it seemed to be working but as the vibrations slowed, Sasporilla Bucket returned to the form of young man.
"The curses harmonic resonance is very strong." Professor Amari said. "I fear all magical options are off the table."
"All Magical options?" Sasporilla asked. "There are nonmagical options?"
"Yes." Professor Slughorn said. "Muggles have a process of chemical transformation followed by one or more surgeries. I'm afraid it is most barbaric."
"I see." Sasporilla sighed. "Well I won't stay like this forever! You've given me a lot to think about."
Arithmancy was not Sasporillas best class nor was it her favorite but she was convinced that somewhere in the jumble of numbers and calculations sat the answer to her theories on harmonic resonance between wands and their users. The professor, Mr.McQuiggin was a funny little man with no hair and coke bottle glasses. He was a patient with her but knew she had no passion for the art.
"I hope you have all done your assignments?" Professor McQuiggin asked rhetorically. "The break down of ones name into it's arithmantic elements. Let's start with..."
Many hands went up. The one hand that did not was that of Sasporilla Bucket, the girl turned into a boy who now dressed as a girl.
"Ms.Bucket?" Professor McQuiggin smiled. "Please enlighten us with your calculations to show us who you are, what numbers represent you and why up on the black board please, and don't forget to show your work."
name: SASPORILLA BUCKET
Character#:1117699331 233252= 58 --> 5+8 = 13 --> 1+3 = 4
Heart#: 1 6 9 1 3 5 = 25 --> 2+5 = 7
Social#:1 17 9 33 2 32 2= 33 --> 3+3 = 6
"Well Ms.Bucket," Professor McQuiggin said. "It seems you have been paying attention after all! Your calculation is accurate. Spot on! 5 points for Hufflepuff. Now would you like to explain the results to the class?"
"Yes professor." Sassy said getting her book ready to read off the results.
"No Ms.Bucket." Professor McQuiggin said closing her book. "I want to see that you understand the results you've calculated."
"Yes sir." Sasporilla said facing the room. "My character number was calculated at four. This means I'm very stable, firm and stubborn. I'm hard working, practical, reliable and down to earth. I'm organized and get things done. I tend to be logical but have a temper when someone ticks me off."
"I could have told you all that without the maths." Karry laughed.
"Who slapped her opponent during the dueling tournament?" Sasporilla asked.
"Fair enough." Karry surrendered.
"Enough ladies." Professor McQuiggin. "Continue Ms.Bucket."
"My Heart number is seven. This number indicates I'm Scholarly, perceptive, understanding, and bright, and enjoy challenges and mysteries. Originality and imagination are more important to me than material possessions and money. Also indicates I'm pessimistic, sarcastic, and a bit insecure."
"My social number is six the number of Harmony, friends and family. The most important things in my life. Six indicates I'm loyal, reliable, and loving. Good at the arts and not much good at business."
Professor McQuiggin applauded. "Absolutely perfect Ms.Bucket five more points for Hufflepuff."
"Thank you sir." Sasporilla said proudly taking her seat beside Karry.
"Teachers pet." Karry smiled elbowing her friend.
"Ah our next volunteer." Professor McQuiggen said. "Ms.Curtiss, you're up!"
**********************
Hamid Frakash had many items touched by dark magic in his home. Things he had taken from muggles who had run afoul of their discovery. That was his job in the retrieval of magical artifacts from muggle procurement within the Ministry of magic. Some of these items were just what a witch with her powers removed needed to make her way in the world. Korona Portemp was that witch.
She had found enough Muggle money in his home to get where ever she needed to and stay in comfort as she formulated a plan to get her power back. Korona Portemp walked out of Frakash's home and pretended to lock the door as she struggled with her luggage. The cab driver, who sat waiting for her, got out of bis cab and helped the young blonde woman with her bags.
"Where are you headed Missus?" The cabbie asked.
"Cardiff Central station." Korona smiled brightly.
"Going on vacation?" The cabbie asked.
"Going to Scotland to visit a friend of my niece." Korona said honestly.
"Lovely." The cabbie said putting her bags in the boot. "I think I'm running a bit late, an extra twenty in it for you if you get me to the trains on time."
"Hold on to your kerchief Missus." The driver said peeling out and speeding away.
***************************
After lunch Karry and Zac headed off to their class in teaching magical skills. Sasporilla had Imbuing, a class which taught how to make ordinary items magical, by enchanting them with spells.
Professor Jacobi was a middle aged man with long white hair, tied back in a pony tail, and a short nicely trimmed dark beaded. He was a very laid back professor who never gave study assignments and let you work at your own pace. He took the time to listen and help, only ever asking the same courtesies in return.
"Anyone here play guitar?" The professor asked.
Sasporilla Bucket raised her hand.
"Right on man," the professor smiled, "We'll have to jam some time, but that's not why I asked. Tuning!"
Professor Jacobi drew a line on the board with a very rough looking tuning key on the end.
"To tune your strings you twist the key." He said drawing a circle with an arrow around the keys top and an arrow on the line pointing towards the key end. "Turning the key tightens the string. As the string tightens or loosens its pitch and frequency change."
"The same as a wand core." Sasporilla said.
"Yes!" The professor did a dance unable to contain his excitement. "Now tuning a wand, though the same is also different. Can you tell me how and why?"
"The guitar plays music and the wand makes magic." Sasporilla smiled.
"Actually one could say that they are both just tools to let the person who uses them make the magic." Professor Jacobi smiled.
"Well said Professor." Sasporilla smiled in agreement. "When a guitar string is tune it can be played alone but works best when all of the strings are in tune. They resonate together when played as chords and sound nice. I know that the same is true for wands but the tuned core, though it harmonizes in resonance with the woods, metals and crystals of the wand it's not as readily seen or hear as in a guitar."
"Well done Bucket dude!" The professor giving his student a high five. "Five points to Hufflepuff man! You totally get it!"
"Thank you sir." Sasporilla said. "Wands are my passion."
'They're Karrys too'. The voice of Zac ran through her head. She could see Myrons face as he broke up laughing. Frankly she was surprised at Myron Wagtail for laughing at such a crude double entandre. It was unlike him.
"Now can anyone tell me the difference between TUNING and ATTUNEING?" Professor Jacobi asked.
No one moved.
"They are both the same, and at the same time, very different." Professor Jacobi said. "Attune - To harmonize an item with it's user. If you tune your guitar, anyone can pick it up and play it. If you Attune your guitar, only YOU can pick it up and play it."
Professor Jacobi scanned the class to see who got it and who didn't. Most didn't but some seemed to have a bit of a clue but Sasporilla Buckets eyes sparkled with understanding.
"Like a Triumphant 1200x!" Sasporilla said. "Only its owner can ride it!"
"You are correct Sir Bucket of dude!" The professor laughed. "Do you fly?"
"Yes." Sasporilla said. "I flew around the world last summer."
"Alone?" The professor asked.
"Yes." Sassy smiled shyly. "From Hogwarts across Europe and Asia to Canada and back to school."
"Wow dude." Professor Jacobi nodded. "You're hard core man."
"Thanks." Sassy smiled.
"The process of Attuning requires three things." Professor Jacobi said. "An item you wish to attune, the person with which the item is to be attuned to, and A gem imbued with a soul mirror spell,"
Sasporilla scribbled furiously in her note book then in a small journal she carried in her robes.
"Now for those of you who truly get it," Professor Jacobi said. "Read chapter 9 of your text book then come up and take a gem you want to imbue with a soul mirror spell. Tomorrow bring an item with you. We will be attuning it. For the rest, back of the class and we'll take it a bit slower."
After class Sasporilla was called to the office of the Headmistress. By the time the young wizard with pink hair arrived, a heated discussion was under way between Professors McGonagall, Amari, Slughorn and Sprout.
"Come in please Mr. Bu...Miss Buc." Professor McGonagall stammered. "Oh just come in and take a seat."
"There are several potions that we could try to return her to normal." Professor Slughorn insisted. "The most common being these being Elbeperminentia."
"Elbeperminentia." Professor Amari snorted with derision. "That potion will interact badly with the curse. It will leave her a disfigured mess at best half one sex and half the other, at the worst a multicolored hunchback with claws a fur."
The debate went on for hours. Every idea that was brought forth was just as quickly put down again by Professor Amaris vast expertise in the interactions of dark magic.
"What about a dark magic spell that does something like Elbeperminentia?" Sasporilla mused.
Sassy had barely gotten the words out when Professor Amari was across the room and grabbed her hard by the chin, turning her gaze up to meet the professors scary eyes that began to glow as red dots suspended in blackness.
"Never consider a dark magic option." Professor Amari insisted. "Its corruptions will stain your young pure soul and take you down a path you will not dare want to walk."
"What about Elf magic?" Professor Sprout asked.
"That is an interesting suggestion." Headmistress McGonagall said enthusiastically.
"Yes." Professor Amari agreed. "That might just work."
"Sasporilla dear." Professor Sprout said. "Do you think you can do it."
"What could she do?" Professor Amari asked.
"Our Sasporilla is part elf and starting to get a handle on some of her wandless powers." Professor Sprout said proudly.
"What!" Professor Amari said rushing at Sasporilla with her Thoroascope. She flicked in the green and gold lenses. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
"What is it professor?" Sasporilla asked.
"I fear by destroying the gem and locking casters power in physical form it may have blocked all possibilities of help from elven sources."
"But if you hadn't I'd be stuck this way forever and die old in ten years." Sasporilla said.
"Yes." Professor Amari said.
"Then thank you for that at the very least, buying me time." Sasporilla said.
"You are a very bright light in a dark world Sasporilla Bucket." Amari said. "In most ways it sickens me."
"Well at least I should try the elven option." Sasporilla said snapping her fingers.
She began to vibrate. Her form shifted and change in a vibrating blur. The professors gasped as it seemed to be working but as the vibrations slowed, Sasporilla Bucket returned to the form of young man.
"The curses harmonic resonance is very strong." Professor Amari said. "I fear all magical options are off the table."
"All Magical options?" Sasporilla asked. "There are nonmagical options?"
"Yes." Professor Slughorn said. "Muggles have a process of chemical transformation followed by one or more surgeries. I'm afraid it is most barbaric."
"I see." Sasporilla sighed. "Well I won't stay like this forever! You've given me a lot to think about."
PLEASE REMEMBER
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.