chapter 10 so far
Lunch was uneventful, with Nanoha and Fate demolishing any available fruit within reach since they hadn’t yet had a chance to visit the kitchens. Hermione picked at her plate, growing increasingly nervous as the meal dragged on and the time for the meeting approached. She was certain that her recent joining of the TSAB as a contractor would come up during the course of the conference and she was genuinely terrified of the reactions that would get from her professors. She was so distracted by her worries that she almost didn’t notice the furtive glances Nanoha and Fate directed her way as they slowed their eating. “Is something wrong?â€
“No, not at all. We are actually both just surprised at the reading we got on your magic potential from Raising Heart,†Nanoha replied quietly, glancing around quickly to make sure they weren’t being overheard. “Based on what we have seen of the power of wizard spells, we were not expecting to find anybody with that high of a reading. You could be in the top quarter of a percent of TSAB mages in raw power. We have not had the opportunity to check anybody else yet, but I do not think that having so much magical power would be common.â€
“You would be one to speak, Nanoha,†Fate teased lightly. “Mari told me that when she first met you and found out how powerful you are she came up with the idea that Earth produced a similar over-all magic potential to other worlds but it was just focused on a handful of very powerful individuals rather than being more spread out. You and Admiral Graham are both near the top of the power scale after all. I guess her hypothesis would need revising after finding a whole hidden society of other magic users though.â€
“Is it really that rare?â€
“Yes. If the average magical ability of the wizarding world’s population follows a similar distribution to the mages in the TSAB. Magical ability of your level is probably one in several million.â€
“Several million?†Hermione repeated in shock. Could it be possible that the ease with which she learned new magics might have something to do with her raw magical power in addition to her study habits? It was the first thing that came to her mind and, once again assuring herself that nobody was listening in on them, was the first coherent bit of response she was able to speak.
“It probably helps,†replied Nanoha, “Though I cannot say for sure because we have not yet experienced your charms, defense, or transfiguration classes. We do not know much about your type of magic yet and will be learning as Fate and I progress in our studies. Your raw talent probably helps to keep you on a more level playing field here with the people raised in the magical world.
***
The trio left lunch early in order to make a brief stop at Gryffindor tower where both Nanoha and Fate quickly changed into uniforms similar to the ones Hermione had seen the personnel aboard the Asura wearing though in different color schemes. Nanoha’s had a white base with blue highlights and Fate’s was black on black representing, she found out upon inquiring, their affiliation to the instructor corps and the Enforcers respectively. Both pulled on their outer robes so as not to look entirely conspicuous on their way to their meeting.
Hermione felt as though her body was on autopilot as she guided Nanoha and Fate back toward the Headmaster’s office. Both of the foreign girls seemed to be perfectly at ease with the situation and Hermione tried to draw on their confidence. It was unlikely that they would take much part in the meeting since the Admiral would be present to answer any important questions. It was unlikely that she would get in trouble for her decision to sign her service contract due to the surrounding circumstances. She was still reasoning with herself when they reached the gargoyle at the entrance to the Headmaster’s office and Nanoha and Fate came to a halt and took a moment to inspect themselves one more time before saying the password Dumbledore had told them for admittance.
The office was probably the fullest that Hermione had ever seen it, with all four of the heads of houses present in addition to the Headmaster and Professor Vector. She quickly took the seat that she was offered at the end of a row of five chairs situated facing the Headmaster’s desk and looked about in some surprise when she wasn’t joined by Nanoha and Fate. Nanoha and Fate both removed their robes and hung them over the backs of their chairs before turning to face the same empty space in the middle of the room. Tamping down on her impulse to inquire what they were doing, Hermione just watched curiously.
Fate and Nanoha were the only two occupants of the room who were unsurprised when a complex magical diagram blossomed across the floor of the office, centered in the empty area the two were facing. The intensity of the light increased steadily, growing almost painfully bright in the comparatively dim office before subsiding to reveal two figures standing in the center of the rapidly fading magical circle. Nanoha and Fate both snapped to attention and saluted as the office returned to its normal illumination. Their salutes were returned by the young man and woman who had appeared. After a few moments of holding the position, the man dropped the salute, followed by the three young women.
Dumbledore, having taken notice of the man’s lead a moment earlier, turned to address him. “Welcome to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. I am Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster here. To my right is Minerva McGonagall, deputy Headmistress, head of Gryffindor house, and transfiguration professor. I have also asked our heads of house and relevant professors to attend this meeting if that is alright with you,†he stated, gesturing toward the other staff members in the room.
“That will be fine,†replied the man, “I am Admiral Chrono Harlaown of the Time Space Administration Bureau, or TSAB. This,†he said, gesturing toward the young woman who he had arrived with, “is Major Hayate Yagami of the same. You are already familiar with Lieutenants Takamachi and Harlaown. We do have a diplomat en route to the Earth, but it will be several more days until he arrives.
“No, not at all. We are actually both just surprised at the reading we got on your magic potential from Raising Heart,†Nanoha replied quietly, glancing around quickly to make sure they weren’t being overheard. “Based on what we have seen of the power of wizard spells, we were not expecting to find anybody with that high of a reading. You could be in the top quarter of a percent of TSAB mages in raw power. We have not had the opportunity to check anybody else yet, but I do not think that having so much magical power would be common.â€
“You would be one to speak, Nanoha,†Fate teased lightly. “Mari told me that when she first met you and found out how powerful you are she came up with the idea that Earth produced a similar over-all magic potential to other worlds but it was just focused on a handful of very powerful individuals rather than being more spread out. You and Admiral Graham are both near the top of the power scale after all. I guess her hypothesis would need revising after finding a whole hidden society of other magic users though.â€
“Is it really that rare?â€
“Yes. If the average magical ability of the wizarding world’s population follows a similar distribution to the mages in the TSAB. Magical ability of your level is probably one in several million.â€
“Several million?†Hermione repeated in shock. Could it be possible that the ease with which she learned new magics might have something to do with her raw magical power in addition to her study habits? It was the first thing that came to her mind and, once again assuring herself that nobody was listening in on them, was the first coherent bit of response she was able to speak.
“It probably helps,†replied Nanoha, “Though I cannot say for sure because we have not yet experienced your charms, defense, or transfiguration classes. We do not know much about your type of magic yet and will be learning as Fate and I progress in our studies. Your raw talent probably helps to keep you on a more level playing field here with the people raised in the magical world.
***
The trio left lunch early in order to make a brief stop at Gryffindor tower where both Nanoha and Fate quickly changed into uniforms similar to the ones Hermione had seen the personnel aboard the Asura wearing though in different color schemes. Nanoha’s had a white base with blue highlights and Fate’s was black on black representing, she found out upon inquiring, their affiliation to the instructor corps and the Enforcers respectively. Both pulled on their outer robes so as not to look entirely conspicuous on their way to their meeting.
Hermione felt as though her body was on autopilot as she guided Nanoha and Fate back toward the Headmaster’s office. Both of the foreign girls seemed to be perfectly at ease with the situation and Hermione tried to draw on their confidence. It was unlikely that they would take much part in the meeting since the Admiral would be present to answer any important questions. It was unlikely that she would get in trouble for her decision to sign her service contract due to the surrounding circumstances. She was still reasoning with herself when they reached the gargoyle at the entrance to the Headmaster’s office and Nanoha and Fate came to a halt and took a moment to inspect themselves one more time before saying the password Dumbledore had told them for admittance.
The office was probably the fullest that Hermione had ever seen it, with all four of the heads of houses present in addition to the Headmaster and Professor Vector. She quickly took the seat that she was offered at the end of a row of five chairs situated facing the Headmaster’s desk and looked about in some surprise when she wasn’t joined by Nanoha and Fate. Nanoha and Fate both removed their robes and hung them over the backs of their chairs before turning to face the same empty space in the middle of the room. Tamping down on her impulse to inquire what they were doing, Hermione just watched curiously.
Fate and Nanoha were the only two occupants of the room who were unsurprised when a complex magical diagram blossomed across the floor of the office, centered in the empty area the two were facing. The intensity of the light increased steadily, growing almost painfully bright in the comparatively dim office before subsiding to reveal two figures standing in the center of the rapidly fading magical circle. Nanoha and Fate both snapped to attention and saluted as the office returned to its normal illumination. Their salutes were returned by the young man and woman who had appeared. After a few moments of holding the position, the man dropped the salute, followed by the three young women.
Dumbledore, having taken notice of the man’s lead a moment earlier, turned to address him. “Welcome to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. I am Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster here. To my right is Minerva McGonagall, deputy Headmistress, head of Gryffindor house, and transfiguration professor. I have also asked our heads of house and relevant professors to attend this meeting if that is alright with you,†he stated, gesturing toward the other staff members in the room.
“That will be fine,†replied the man, “I am Admiral Chrono Harlaown of the Time Space Administration Bureau, or TSAB. This,†he said, gesturing toward the young woman who he had arrived with, “is Major Hayate Yagami of the same. You are already familiar with Lieutenants Takamachi and Harlaown. We do have a diplomat en route to the Earth, but it will be several more days until he arrives.