alt_antonin | (no subject)

My thanks once again to Professor Lestrange for his capable help with our demonstration yesterday (and, to those students who were backing me in our match, I must apologise for disappointing!) And, of course, thanks go as well to Auror Crouch for his able assistance with the practicalities of warding, and to Councilmembers Malfoy, Lestrange, and Selwyn for joining us for the afternoon, and for lending their insight and experience to the post-battle discussion.

Students, if you have further questions that you do not wish to hold for class this week -- I know I always think of five things I should have asked once a discussion breaks up! -- I am happy to answer.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

alt_antonin

My little hare,

An excellent day's work, wouldn't you say? And you were all so obliging in not mocking my infirmities after. (Speaking of: yes, you were right, I did strain something in my ribcage trying to abort that one sequence before instinct led me to cause more damage than I'd intended. But before you worry, I have taped things up and am taking it easy today.)

I missed the final disposition in the confusion of leave-taking -- did you or Rod prevail in the battle over that cursed bracelet? We did manage to get further than I thought we might.

Eternally yours,
T

From:

alt_harry

Antonin Nikolaevich;

Thank you for the demonstration. I really appreciated seeing it.

When ~~Raz~~ Professor Raz hit you with a punching hex, I noticed you did something with your wand that didn't look like a block or shield. It looked like you sort of turned it around and used it back on him instead of stopping it or deflecting it. I've never really seen that sort of move before, and I was wondering what it was and if you could tell me more about it.

Also, there was one point where you looked like you were holding back. After casting the headcold hex. What were you planning to cast?

And did it hurt to hold back? I mean, during the whole thing. To keep control like that. I mean, I know it took a lot of concentration.

From:

alt_antonin

Mr Marvolo,

Excellently spotted, on several fronts. Five points to Slytherin.

To answer your inquires in order: the percussive hex is one of the rare hexes that functions as both discrete spell unit and as, hm. "Wave of energy" is perhaps the best way to describe it (this is best explained in person, with visual aids; I will happily do so if this explanation does not serve). The standard counter to the hex is to shield against the force, of course, and that is easy enough to do, but if one is quick enough and can concentrate well enough, it is possible to take the energy that is being directed at you and transmute it into power for one's own return, while dispersing (and earthing) any of the energy you are not using to power your own spell.

There are a limited number of hexes that can be powered by such transmuted energy, and it is devilishly difficult timing -- it is not something I would dare to try with any opponent whose timing I was uncertain of, nor in battle with multiple opponents (as it does leave one's defenses open for a split second -- not, usually, long enough for a single opponent to take advantage, but still unwise if fighting several people at once). But in a situation such as this it can be a powerful tactic. You will note I used that energy to power a blood-chilling curse -- I do not know if you are familiar with that spell, but successful casting of it generally requires you to be within arm's length of your opponent. With the transmuted power from Raz's percussive hex, I was able to send the blood-chilling curse much further than I otherwise would have -- an opponent who did not know about the transmutation potential would not necessarily think to shield against some of the arm's-length curses when halfway across the room, and you can often gain an advantage in that way.

The most common use of this technique in battle, actually, is when you are fighting an opponent at the side of someone with whom you have trained extensively. Say that you and Mr Malfoy had trained together long enough to become intimately familiar with each others' techniques and abilities: he might give you some pre-arranged signal and cast the percussive hex towards you, not your opponent, allowing you to absorb, transmute, and use the power he had provided to fuel your next attack on your mutual enemy. (And that is, indeed, how I knew Raz's timing well enough to be willing to risk it; several of us have drilled the technique in past.)

I am pleased you noticed my slight hesitation after casting the headcold hex (though slightly chagrined it was that obvious!) -- as you develop your own repertoire of spellcraft, you will find yourself fitting together certain building-blocks of spells that seem to flow naturally for you, and that is one of them for me. I do favor a combination of the headcold hex leading into a variation on a limb-locking curse, and have practised it often enough that my muscle-memory often propels my body along the process of casting, before my conscious mind catches up with it. I was half a heartbeat away from casting when I saw Raz was not quite ready to block, and had to pull myself up short. (I would be happy to demonstrate the motions at some point to show you why I feel they flow together well; it is not a common choice, but the two spells together fit well with my strengths. Your own preferences will take time to develop.)

It is indeed difficult to hold back in such a demonstration -- we are all, I sometimes fear, far too overtrained, and years (and years, and years!) of drilling have writ the patterns into bone and muscle. There is a reason neither Razzer nor I would dare such a no-holds-barred, extensive spectacle with anyone with whom we were not intimately familiar; it is only the fact that we fought together for so long, both in teaching and in Our Lord your Father's service, that makes it possible for us to trust each other so deeply. (I can think of very few people with whom I would risk such a thing, most of whom were present yesterday.)

It is not inherently painful to do so, though one does risk injury, physical or magical, when one must override one's instinct. For instance, if one catches oneself after one has begun preparing one's next hex but before one casts it, it is possible to be caught in a sort of magical backwash, like the way water and sand get drawn into a wave that is about to crest. There are ways to usefully channel magical energy in such a situation, but often it is simpler to cast a similar, but more easily countered, hex or curse with the power one has begun to prepare.

As the year progresses, we will touch upon the question of how to best handle aborted spells without injury, and I would not be surprised if Raz goes into the question in more detail in your work with him in Defence: the two subjects are very closely connected, and I am quite pleased that Defence is being taught by someone with whom I am so familiar. I believe there will be many opportunities for us to work together throughout the year.

I know that Raz has been working with you on matters of your protection (and he is quite complimentary of your achievements there) -- if any of this inspires you to learn more I would be happy to provide you with more information, or at very least several references. Though Razzer is more than qualified as your tutor, of course, and many of these techniques are best learned from someone with whom you have already built trust!

With regard,
Antonin Nikolaevich

From:

alt_harry

Antonin Nikolaevich;

Thank you for explaining. Professor Raz is a really great teacher, and it means a lot that he'd say that to you about me. I can see what you mean about how it's important to train with someone you trust. I know that he learned a lot from you, and trusts you.

The transmutation ~~stuff~~ technique sounds really interesting. I think I'd like to read more about it, if you've got any books to recommend. I'll definitely ask Professor Raz about working on it with him. And I'll have to think more about combinations, too, and try to sort out what would work best for me. Maybe we could talk about your take on it sometime. I look forward to learning more about this sort of thing in both your classes too.

From:

alt_antonin

Mr Marvolo,

You could do far worse for a teacher than Raz, indeed! He is not only a powerful and flexible wizard, but also excellent at conveying the essentials in a variety of forms and formats. I'm quite pleased you've been able to rely on him as a resource.

I will have a look through my library and see what references I can turn up for you -- I may not be able to do so by your class tomorrow, as I'm scurrying to put the final touches on the lecture for this week's theoretical class, but I will definitely be able to do so by Friday. I would be happy to discuss in person, as well -- you may stop by my open hours whenever you've the time and inclination, or if you'd like, I do have lunch in my office most days when I am not teaching straight through and would be happy to have you join me.

With regard,
Antonin

From:

alt_selwyn

Thank you for a delightful and fascinating afternoon. I trust you're recovering well?

From:

alt_antonin

Dominic --

Quite well, thank you, though my assorted aches and pains today are reminding me I am nowhere near as young as I used to be!

I am so very glad you could join us -- it was lovely to get the chance to know you a bit better, and I am most appreciative of your contributions to the discussion afterwards. (And your kindness towards some of our more, shall we say, exciteable students.) I'll be certain to let you know the next time we're plotting a similar event!

Warmly,
T

From:

alt_sally_anne

This was a really interesting demonstration, thank you again!

The thing that made me the most curious was the ward you had Auror Crouch put up beforehand. What was the language he was using when he cast the spell? What is in the potion? Also, what would have happened if someone had cast a spell towards it from our side of the barrier?

From:

alt_antonin

Miss Perks, I am somehow not surprised that you are the first to ask me about the warding in more detail! (The topic is fascinating in greater depth; I will make the now-familiar invitation for you to stop in and discuss to further extent. By now, perhaps you should consider yourself to have a standing invitation.)

The language of the incantation is Arabic in its classical form, dating back to the sixth century or so (and still surviving, in many ways, in the wizarding dialects; Arabic is a highly dialecticised language, and most contemporary Muggle variants are very near mutually unintelligible, but the wizarding dialect is quite close to the classical form -- much like if wizarding English were still the language of Beowulf.) And even that is a translation of an earlier incantation, from ancient Egypt during the time of the Pharoahs. I learnt it from my mother, who could trace her heritage back to the Middle Kingdom; I could write out a translation of the incantation for you if you were curious. The potion, meanwhile, is nothing ornate: frankincense, myrrh, cypress, cotton fibers, and crushed beetle shells, in a base of honey and wine, with the brewer's blood to bind it all together.

If any of you had cast a spell towards the barrier it would have been absorbed just the same as the few stray curses sent your way were absorbed -- the barrier "eats" magic in both directions. It is easily punctured if physically crossed, which is why the adults in the audience were tasked with making certain none of you came too close and why it is not at all useful in battle -- but for a demonstration such as this, it is quite handy. (It, or something similar, is often used, for instance, by magical researchers who wish to isolate themselves and their work from their surroundings, in the event of disaster.)

If you would like, stay after class tomorrow afternoon and I will hold forth in greater depth!