Harry Potter: Rise of the Spiral

Chapter 12

Training with the tailed beasts was nothing short of torture, both physical and psychological. Edmund was constantly bombarded with their killing intent while he worked on his chakra control and dodged deadly sand shuriken for hours every day. The bijuu used their chakra to forcefully expand his chakra coils to increase his chakra capacity. They helped him understand magic and chakra and harmonize the two energies.

Magic, as Edmund now understood, had some similarities with Yin or spiritual chakra. Magic was used to bend reality and allowed a person to create and do pretty much anything if one had enough understanding. While Yin chakra, if one was proficient enough with it, could make illusions a reality.

So Edmund's affinity with Yin chakra was increased by the influence of bijuu chakra. This allowed him to understand magic better and was now able to mix both chakra and magic together. His ninjutsu power had increased exponentially as it was reinforced by magic and so did the potency of his magic due to its constant use. Achieving harmony allowed Edmund to create shadow clones that had chakra and magic. Now he could practice both with shadow clones while he focused on physical aspects of being a ninja.

When his time of staying with the bijuu came to an end, all nine of them shared their chakra with him. One could say he now had as much chakra as Naruto had when he returned from his three years of training with Jiraya. Bidding them farewell, Edmund returned back to Hogwarts just when the winter holidays were over.

(ROTS)

Edmund was busy reading magic theory in the library when he sensed killing intent coming from the forest. His clone that had been spying on Iris' movements dispersed and memories flooded into his mind. Looking around, he didn't see anyone near him so he created a clone who kept reading in his place while he slipped away.

As he approached the whooping willow, Edmund saw none other than his DADA professor transforming into a werewolf. A man was trying to hold him down as Iris had her wand pointed at a rat-like man and her two 'friends' stood near the violent tree, supporting an injured dungeon bat. 'Well, I guess this one's time at Hogwarts is over.'

(ROTS)

The third-year was like a whirlwind for Iris. From a mass murderer out for her blood to dementors ready to eat her soul, Iris would sometimes contemplate if it's really worth coming to Hogwarts at the risk of her life every other day. But it was the only place where she could go to escape her prison at her aunt's house.

She had chosen Care for Magical Creatures and Divination as her electives as they were recommended by Dumbledore to her. She never understood why Divination was necessary. It was such a dodgy subject and she had no interest in it. But she had to keep appearances. She had learnt to do what was expected of her to avoid trouble. But trouble found her wherever she went. From trolls and possessed professors, basilisks and sentient books to escaped killers and soul-sucking wraiths, every year there was some danger and divination could hardly help her defend against these threats.

Edmund Vulpis had asked her to study more and had tried to tell her that sabotaging her own education was not right. But Iris feared to lose her friends. They were the only ones showed they care. Even though they practically abandoned her in the second year after the heir of Slytherin fiasco, she was ready to give them another chance. Perhaps Edmund also cared as he had helped her many a time in the past two years.

Thinking about the golden blond-haired boy, Iris would get flustered as it always reminded her of their little intimate moment at the Leakey Cauldron. She would gain a full-blown blush whenever their eyes met at school and his teasing grin was not helpful at all. She'd always get bashful and look away trying to ignore him but only to fail every single time.

Aside from her moments with Edmund, she learnt the Patronus charm form her DADA professor who was also a friend of her parents. She wanted to ask him why he never tried to look for her but held it back, not wanting to alienate him. She also found out that not only was Sirius Black a friend of her parents but was also her godfather. She was extremely angry at the moment she learnt the fact. She wanted to know why he betrayed them and when she finally got the chance at the Shrieking Shack, she was shocked when the truth was told to her. Peter Pettigrew was alive after all these years and was hiding as none other than Ron's pet rat.

After finally getting a confession out of him and when thinking all was good, Remus Lupin began transforming due to the full moon. Taking the opportunity to flee, Pettigrew transformed into his rat form and ran away. She was really scared at that moment. Remus was losing all rationality as he was transforming and the process seemed very painful. Sirius was trying his best to help his friend but it wasn't helping. Right when Remus was about to pounce at her and her friends, a deafening roar was heard, coming from the forest.

(ROTS)

Edmund saw red when the wolf professor was about to attack Iris. Abandoning all thoughts of self-preservation and hiding his abilities, he snarled and transformed into a five meter tall Kyuubi and roared, showing his anger towards the pathetic wolf. He released the full extent of his killing intent towards the mutt.

The wolf on his part was ready to flee, if not for his legs freezing due to fear. It was reminded of a certain boggart it had seen through its host's eyes. The feeling was similar, only this time, it was much stronger.

Edmund rushed towards the group and stopped in front of Iris, his tails swishing wildly behind him, blocking the wolf who was whimpering in front of the superior predator. The transformed Sirius behind Remus was already lying down with his paws over his eyes and was whimpering and whining. Edmund roared again, this time much closer to the wolf's face, making the wolf piss on itself and fall on it's back while curling in a fetal position.

He stopped when his rational side took over. He had just exposed one of his secrets and was now dreading it. He didn't want Iris to be afraid of him. Releasing that much killing intent recklessly must have affected her. Fearing the consequence of his error, he turned around, only to see Iris staring at him with wonder in her eyes. he had instinctively excluded Iris from his killing intent. Even though Iris was unharmed, it could not be said for her companions. Granger, weasel and the dungeon bat had already fainted, the latter foaming from his mouth.

Iris stepped forward, with her hand raised towards the Kyuubi. Edmund remained still and allowed her to approach him. He understood what she was thinking. For her, he was just a rare magical creature who had helped her. Iris touched his muzzle as Edmund took a sniff of her hand. Perhaps it was due to his transformation and hormones but he was finding her scent to be very addictive. Iris kissed his muzzle, whispered a thank you and moved back.

Edmund took this chance and sped away towards the forest. He needed to clear his head. He kept trying to reason with himself that what he did was to protect his Iris.

'...to protect my Iris.'

'...my Iris.'

'my... Iris.....'

'Shite...'