Remedy for Resistance

Pandemonium King

Chapter Six: Will

I woke up the next day feeling like I do every morning, usually a little sleepy, but well-rested and ready for the day. I sat up in my bed and looked down at myself. Seeing myself fully dressed in the clothes I wore yesterday, not even having the time to change into something else before I passed out, reminded me of my apparent suddenly complete knowledge of the Wizarding world.

I tried to think of something I could do or recall, as if remembering a piece of knowledge that I learned ages ago, except with skipping the process of actually learning it, but I could only recall random useless facts that I did not need and spells I could not perform without a wand.

I did, however, recall the exact amount of every ingredient needed to brew a magical flu remedy. It seemed like the easiest thing in the world, like tying one's shoelaces after having been tying them for years.

I also, to my surprise, recalled information that tied into the mythological world, knowing that only I, as a demigod, would know that. I happened to know that a very popular alcoholic drink called Firewhiskey has a mild amount of the most harmless yet effective components of what makes the Phlegethon River one of the most effective healing substances in our world.

Although, rather than healing physical damage, Firewhiskey seems to heal more mental problems. Apparently, according to my new mind, the mix of the healing properties from the Phlegethon and the alcohol seems to create an effective anti-depressant, more efficient than any mortal pill or short-lasting bottle of liquid courage.

I don't know why my brain gave me this information in particular, but I had some ideas. What I really wanted, though, is a spell, but since, as I told you earlier, I did not have a wand, I just sifted through my mind looking for something magical that I could do at that moment, until I finally came across two things.

Apparition -

Apparition is a magical method of transportation. A form of teleportation. It is by far the fastest way to get to one's desired destination, but is tricky to pull off correctly and disastrous if botched up.

I shuddered, knowing exactly what would happen if I botch it up when I try it.

Animagus -

An animagus is a witch or wizard who can morph themselves into an animal at will.

I immediately knew that the first thing I would be doing that morning is turning into an animal. It had struck me that I may not be an animagus, but I decided it wouldn't hurt to try.

I concentrated on myself, I imagined my body shifting and morphing. Since I did not know what my animagus form would be if I had one, I just imagined my limbs and other body parts morphing into fluid, distorted, blobs.

All of a sudden I could feel myself changing. My limbs grew shorter, my face elongated, I grew shaggy hair all over my body, my bones altered themselves until I could no longer sit like I was sitting, and I fell backwards and onto my side, my limbs stiff.

I immediately got up and jumped off my bed. I could not see myself, and I still did not know what I was. I looked around frantically, looking for a mirror. I could not open the bathroom door in order to check the bathroom mirror. The small mirror on the desk was too small, and I could not see myself from my now short perspective.

I continued to glance around until my gaze landed on the closet. One of the doors was ajar, and I would have bet my new tail (did I mention I grew a tail?) there was a mirror on the inside.

I trotted over to it and attempted to further open the door with my paws (I had paws), but it was no use. It felt odd thinking this, but I got the brilliant idea to use my face. As I mentioned before, my face had become longer and wider, like a snout, so I guessed it wouldn't hurt to try it.

I stuck my nose in between the closet and the door, but it didn't quite fit, so I wriggled it in further and pushed it open.

Sure enough, on the inside of the closet door was a mirror and all I could do after I finally got to see my reflection was stare.

I had become a Golden Retriever.

The shaggy hair I had felt growing was in fact shaggy fur, and it was of a beautiful golden color, almost the same color as my human hair. My new ears sat atop my head, relaxed and droopy. The only exact similarity I had between my animagus form and my human form were my eyes. My eyes were still of the same shade of bright sky blue.

After marveling at myself in the mirror for a bit longer, I had decided to turn back into my human self and begin my usual morning activities.

After turning back – which was surprisingly easy – and showering, brushing my teeth, running my fingers through my wet hair, as so on, I exited the bathroom.

As I walked over to my suitcase, a towel – provided by the Leaky Cauldron - around my waist, my hair dripping water droplets onto my bare chest, I noticed something on the desk that was definitely not there earlier.

I completely forgot about getting dressed and instead walked over to the mysterious something. It was a note, and on the note lay a few silver coins, a few more, much smaller, bronze coins, and a single, much larger, gold coin.

Sickles.

Knuts.

Galleons.

I moved the coins aside and read the note.

Will Solace,

Here is a small amount of money for breakfast. I don't want you to starve to death, after all.

When both you and Nico are downstairs, I shall appear. I need to provide you with further instructions for your task. You may know much about the Wizarding World now, but you still know relatively nothing about how to carry on with the task.

I have also recently been informed that many little things within the Wizarding World have changed greatly since I have last been there. Any information that I did not posses when giving you the blessing has not been transferred to your mind, as you can imagine. There is still an inexact amount of pieces of knowledge that you may acquire during the year. It is too late now to give you another blessing. You will just have to figure some things out on your own. I recommend reading books, and a lot of them.

And, by the way, you can turn into a Golden Retriever.

Hecate.

After sighing at the fact that Hecate hadn't even checked in on her 'pet world' for so much time, I smiled to myself. Breakfast is just what the doctor ordered. I'm the doctor. Doctor who? Doctor Solace. Who else?

Really, all I need now is nice mug of coffee, a satisfying meal, and then it's over for that last bit of sleepiness.

After I dressed myself in a faded light blue t-shirt, shorts, and a pair of sandals, I made a quick decision to try and apparate to the lobby. If I was going undercover as a normal wizard, I needed to be sure of my abilities. If ended up losing a toe on my way down, better now than later.

I grabbed my room key, – so I would not get locked out, in case I could not apparate back in – and the money and put it in the front pocket of my shorts. As if my body was moving itself, I instinctively turned on the spot while concentrating on the lobby of the Leaky Cauldron.

I heard a loud cracking sound before everything went black for just a moment, then I reappeared in my desired location. It sort of felt like being squeezed through tubes that were too small for you to fit in them, but something on the other end of it is sucking you in, like a suction, and you have no choice but to be pulled along.

I felt dizzy for a short instant, but I just blinked firmly a few times, and I felt normal again. I shook my head, as if I were getting water out of my ears, and walked towards the bar.

I sat down in a stool and looked at the large menu that hung on the opposite wall. A hunched-over old man was tending to other customers, so I would have enough time to examine the menu before he came over.

"Can I get you something?" he asked me.

As he stood in front of me, I recognized him as the same man that led me and Nico to our rooms the previous day, but I don't think he remembered me, as he was in a sort of trance, induced by Hecate's magical finger snapping. I think his name is Tom. Sure enough, on a nametag pinned to his apron, the name Tom was written in small letters.

"I- Uh- Yes. How much is it for a cup of coffee and a slice of toast with butter and cheese?" I asked.

"One Galleon, three Sickles, and seven Knuts," Tom replied.

I pushed my hand into my pocket and pulled out that exact amount of money, but it wasn't that the amount of money had changed, though apparently Hecate is an Oracle now.

I gave Tom the money, which he promptly stuffed into a pocket in his apron. He gave me an almost toothless grin and declared, "One cup of coffee and a slice of toast with butter and cheese, coming right up." And walked away.

I sat in my seat for a few more minutes, waiting for my breakfast. My ADHD was getting practically unbearable as I absentmindedly tapped my feet to the tunes of miscellaneous Beethoven compositions, such as Für Elise, and, of course, his legendary, eternally famous Fifth Symphony.

I hadn't even realized I was doing it, and I hadn't even realized how loud it was, until I noticed I was getting some dirty looks from those who sat near me who could apparently hear me, and I became suddenly aware of my own actions.

I abruptly stopped tapping my feet and instead started fidgeting with my room key. I didn't need to fidget with it for long, though, because at one point Nico came and sat down beside me, saving me from my own boredom.

"Mornin'." He yawned.

"Good morning," I replied. "Sleep well?"

Nico sighed. "Well, I usually just glare at people when they ask that, but today I can't. I actually slept well, I guess, thanks to Hecate making me pass out, but I'm still tired. I'm always tired."

Nico was right, he looked utterly exhausted. He yawned every other moment. The dark bags under his eyes were slightly lighter than usual, but they were still very distinct. And his skin was as pale as ever.

"Why are you always tired? Have some coffee, it has caffeine in it. It'll wake you up."

Nico looked at me as if I had just said the most obvious thing in the world, which I guess I had. "No shit, Sherlock. Also, it's called fatigue. I'm shocked you didn't know that, doctor."

"Watch your profanity, di Angelo," I said. "And, you know, fatigue and depression, along with many other things, walk hand in hand. You should really try and get some help with that, instead of just sulking about it all the time."

But Nico wasn't listening; he was too busy ordering an Italian Latte from Tom.

We sat in comfortable silence for another minute or so, before a mug of generic, standard coffee and a plate with a slice of toast with butter and cheese seemed to melt into existence from thin air, right in front of me.

I took a sip of my coffee. It seemed to have no sugar in it, but it still tasted sweet to me, just the way I like it. I took a bite of my toast. It tasted heavenly to my empty, morning stomach. I could feel Nico stare longingly at my toast, which is odd, because he didn't order anything besides coffee and did not show any signs of wanting anything besides coffee up until he saw my toast.

I was going to offer Nico some of my toast, but I didn't get the chance. Another mug of coffee materialized in front of Nico, which he immediately grabbed with both hands and drank greedily, like the only reason he goes to sleep every night and wakes up every morning is for the sweet satisfaction of filling an empty stomach with warm, liquid, heaven after hours of restless sleep.

"Ah, proprio come faceva la mamma..." Nico sighed into his drink.

"What? Did you say something?" I asked, looking up from my own food.

Nico shook his head. "I was just remembering how my mama used to make her coffee... It tastes exactly the same... It's like they magicked the coffee here straight from 1940s Italy." Nico chuckled wryly. "Mama never finished a single mug of coffee. She always gave Bi what was left when it got cold, always around a whole quarter of what she had in the beginning.

"Mama didn't want me to have coffee when I was so small, but if Bi wasn't around, I'd get to have it... I remember telling Mama that it tasted like magic..."

Nico took another sip of coffee and scoffed. "I don't know why I'm even telling you this. Since getting my memories back, I haven't told anyone about anything I've remembered."

I sipped my own coffee, and said, "Because we're friends."

Hello, readers!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Remedy for Resistance.

I literally wrote this chapter in, like, five hours, in one sitting. I know that one sitting is alright, but I don't know if five hours is, seeing as the chapter was fairly uneventful and a filler, though it definitely is not short.

As always, I hope to see you again for the next chapter.

Word count: 2,301 (+ Author's note: 2,383)

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- Pandemonium King