Knowledge is Power

Chapter 11

Mag was excited to begin her fifth year at Hogwarts, mainly because she had a gift for Professor Snape that gave her an opportunity to show off her skills to him as well as perhaps helping to keep him safe. On the train, she told Kereston and Millie of her summer with the native Americans, and both listened with interest. Kereston asked for an enhanced stone, and Mag promised to make both of her friends something. Once at Hogwarts, she was hard pressed not to dash up to professor Snape with her news and gifts right away, but she knew that would seem odd as well as drawing unwanted attention to herself so she waited.

She was made a Slytherin Prefect and though she didn't relish interacting with others, she was pleased for this indication of professor Snape's high regard. When the feast was over, she approached professor Snape and asked to speak with him on a private matter. Concern and curiosity flickered across his face as he gave a tight nod.
"To my office, then," he said, and led the way in a sweep of black robes.
As they walked, Mag lightly patted her pocket to make sure her gifts were still there, and as soon as they were in his office with the door closed she drew them out.

"We went to the United States for our summer vacation, and I learned from the native American shamans! It was quite exciting. Their culture and practices embrace nature and are very peaceful and calming. I wasn't aware I could appreciate such things, but the way they go about it is," she momentarily floundered for words.

The concept was such a different one from their own, and different from anything else she'd ever experienced. It was daunting to describe and she wanted to do it justice. She wished to share the experience with him so that he could properly appreciate it as well.

"It really opens one to their abilities and when the mind is properly centered I find it works far better. They even use music as part of their ceremonies! Primitive flutes and drums that speak to one on a different level than do other types of music."

Professor Snape's expression went from surprised to attentive as he silently listened to her. She told of how she'd learned about stones and, consequently, discovered how to enhance them.
"The Shaman was even impressed," she found herself babbling, and blushing she ducked her head, falling silent for a moment.

"Understandable," he said.

"I can also apply your out of country summer study experience to give you house points for extra curricular magical exploration. Fifty points for Slytherin, Miss WestCraven. Well done!"

Mag smiled.
"Thank you, Sir. I'm always glad to help our house out. I also brought something back for you...I don't expect points for that, of course...I just thought you could use them."

Another flicker of surprise crossed his face.

She produced the jet and garnet pendants she'd made for him by wrapping the stones in silver wire.

"The jet is physically protective," she explained.

"It works in a subtle sort of way. When you have it on, it likely wouldn't occur to someone to physically attack you. It can be overridden, of course, but the person would have to push through quite a bit of reluctance or disinterest on their part to manage it. The garnet cleanses and strengthens your energy field, promoting good health and providing motivation, vigor and enhancing your intuition."

He actually looked impressed! Her heart sang!
"Thank you, Miss WestCraven! I look forward to experiencing these examples of your ability."

"I never see you wearing jewelry so I thought you may not have chains. I brought along two cords for you to wear the stones on," she said, producing two round black silk cords.

She watched happily as, thanking her again, he put each pendant on its cord and tied them around his neck at different lengths so they wouldn't hit against one another. For a silent moment he merely stood with his hand wrapped around the garnet.

"That really does feel nice!"

She knew she was blushing but nothing could be done about it.
"Thank you! I'm so glad you like them. I hope the jet can keep you safe."

A shadow crossed his face and she wished she hadn't said that last part. He only thanked her, though, so wishing him a good evening, she headed to her dorm room.

The school year progressed normally. As Nightshade saw nothing alarming in Harry Potter's mind about Voldemort, Mag's main concern revolved around her upcoming O.W.L.S. She was the most concerned over Transfigurations, but the closer the exams came, the more she started to fret over all of them. Doing well was very important to the rest of her education, after all.

Recalling her parents advice on her very first year to go to Professor Snape if there was a problem, she sought him out frequently after the Christmas holidays for advice and opinions on the OWL of each particular subject. He answered readily for some time, honestly seeming to want to help. Eventually, though, he began to scowl when he saw her coming and his helpful guidance became more terse. Eventually he sighed and shook his head before she could even open her mouth to ask her question.
"No! You enjoy learning from Filius too. I've seen you talking to him about charms after lunch more than once, so go bother him for a few weeks and give me a break!"

"But I'd rather learn from you," Mag protested, not put off in the least.

"I don't care," he said firmly.
"Go to Filius."

She did, and professor Flitwick was very kind and helpful, but it wasn't the same and after a few weeks she tried again. Professor Snape was a little more receptive and together they got through her extensive preparation for each O.W.L. She was satisfied with her progress in everything but Transfigurations. Eventually professor Snape snapped on the matter.

"Just forget it, WestCraven. If you go away and never ask me for advice on Transfigurations again I'll just help you cheat. Your father did the same for me, so I suppose it's only fair. Have Boxwood take it for you, because she scored high on her Transfigurations OWL last year. I will give you two drafts of extended time Polly juice potion the evening before the exam and you can switch with her. It lasts for twenty four hours so I will also provide you with antidotes that you can take at the end of the day. If, for some reason, you are caught, I have nothing to do with it!"

That was brilliant! Though cheating was painstakingly guarded against during OWLS, the use of Pollyjuice potion was never considered. Only enchanted quills or paper. Though Mag wondered why her father never talked about helping professor Snape cheat, at that moment she was just overjoyed by the idea.

"Oh, Professor! Thank you!"
Impulsively Mag threw her arms around him and he patted her shoulder uncomfortably.

"Fine now get out...And don't forget to babble when you're Boxwood or something will seem off," he warned.

Mag nodded, glad he'd mentioned that because she was far quieter than Kereston and it would indeed seem odd. When she brought up the matter to Kereston, the little blonde's mouth made an O of shock that the professor was actually encouraging them to cheat.

"He likely doesn't want Slytherin to look bad if he can help it," Mag said, not sure if he would like her saying that her father had helped him to cheat.
She promised to make Kereston a jet pendant for her help and Kereston readily agreed. Mag had already given her and Millicent citrine bracelets earlier in the year and Kereston had expressed an interest in more items even then.

When the day of the Transfigurations exam came Mag remembered to tell Kereston not to talk as much as she usually did because Mag did not. In Kereston's herbology class, she realized that she didn't know who Kereston would babble to, so mentioned not feeling well a few times instead of talking. If she seemed too quiet, a reason had been provided.

Usually confident in her ability to achieve high scores, Mag wasn't even certain just why the OWLS stressed her so much. When they were all over, though, she was nearly exhausted with relief. She honestly wasn't surprised to receive O's in every subject because she truly felt she'd earned them. Even the one Kereston had earned her for Transfigurations, because cheating was also quite stressful even for Slytherins!