{14th July 1992}
{Rigel's POV}
Gentle rays of the morning sun streamed in through the window of our suite, casting soft patterns of broken leaves onto the marble floor. I hadn't slept all night, my mind relentlessly trying to decipher the clue that I had seen in Dhanvantari's book two days ago.
Despite a generous dose of Pepper-Up potion, a faint, lingering weariness clung stubbornly to the edges of my thoughts. I could go on only because of the undeniable excitement of the mystery I had somehow stumbled upon.
I sat alone in the common area. A half-finished cup of coffee, now gone cold, sat beside me, its bitter taste sharpening my dulled senses. Spread across the polished surface lay a large map of India, courtesy of Parvati. This one was focused on all the waterworks ever cataloged in the country.
My eyes rested gently upon the marked location... Allahabad.
It was said that the city was built at the confluence of three rivers, also called the Triveni Sangam by the locals, and it stood out plainly as the likely candidate for the hidden sanctum the book described. Though it was not the only one, as 16 other places across the country matched the description, some even more prominently, as they had three physical rivers merging into one.
I traced my fingertip slowly along the blue threads representing the Ganges and the Yamuna, while the mythical Sarasvati is rumored to flow and meet at this point underground. According to the notes I'd hastily scribbled from a muggle travel guide, Allahabad was an important religious and cultural hub for local muggles.
But there was no hint of its magical significance. Either the magical community here concealed their secrets exceptionally well, or the inheritance was hidden so thoroughly that even locals remained unaware. I leaned back, exhaling thoughtfully. The clues circled endlessly through my mind.
"Seek my hidden sanctum, a haven of magic untouched by ordinary eyes. Follow the song of water to the place where three rivers meet beneath silver moonlight. There, speak the words of healing, and the way shall be revealed."
"Allahabad…" I whispered softly, tapping the map thoughtfully. "Could it really be there?"
It was an instinct that I was latched onto this place, aside from the several others. It was odd as well since only two rivers physically meet here, but my gut was telling me this was it. But just to be safe, we should make note of other places as well.
'It did say untouched by ordinary eyes. Also, I need to speak the words of healing, which could only mean Paseltongue, but do I need to say random words, or do I need to learn the healing magic that was described in the book... To be on the safe side, I should learn those charms anyway, also to give the impression that I didn't find anything unusual about the treasure from the book. Some of the early spells were written in a different local script, though, so I would need to get it translated.'
The creak of the bedroom door startled me from my musings. I looked up just as Ginny stepped quietly into the room. Sleep still lingering in her eyes as she raised a hand to rub at them, and the movement caused her crop-top to lift slightly, revealing a tempting sliver of smooth, pale underboob. I froze, staring at her.
She noticed me not long after, eyes widening as her cheeks flushed deep crimson moments later. "Oh! Rigel, I-I didn't think anyone would be up yet," she stammered quickly, embarrassment coloring her voice as she pulled her crop top down and shifted in place.
I gave her a gentle, reassuring smile, pretending not to notice her sudden shyness. "Good morning, Ginny."
"Good morning, Rigel," she replied softly, averting her eyes and quickly slipping toward the attached kitchen, obviously seeking refuge away from embarrassment.
I returned my gaze to the map, giving her space to regain composure. A few moments later, she returned with a glass of water, visibly calmer but still faintly flushed. She hesitated briefly, then sat gracefully beside me at the table.
Her eyes fell immediately upon the open pages of my notes and the map, interest sparking in her gaze. After a short, thoughtful pause, she turned toward me expectantly. "Did you find something interesting the day before yesterday, Rigel? You had been so unfocused since our trip to Jyoti's..."
...
I hesitated, uncertain how much I should share just yet as the silence engulfed us. Then, slowly, I shook my head at her, choosing caution over eagerness. Ginny had always been perceptive... so she was bound to notice my abnormalities. But if this secret was as important as I suspected, she'd need a way to protect herself and her mind before I brought her and the others fully into confidence.
Instead, I shifted the conversation carefully. "Ginny, have you ever heard of Legilimency and Occlumency?"
She looked momentarily confused, curiosity quickly replacing the earlier blush as she leaned forward. "No, I don't think so. Should I have?"
"Not necessarily," I replied reassuringly. "They're both rather obscure and advanced branches of mind magic. Legilimency is the art of reading minds, interpreting someone's surface thoughts and emotions directly with magic and eye contact. If one is proficient enough, then one can even scour through someone's memories."
Ginny's eyes widened, both in fascination and fear. "And Occlumency?"
"Occlumency is its counterpart, mind art," I explained patiently. "It teaches you how to protect your mind, shielding your thoughts and memories from intrusion. It helps prevent others from accessing your mind or manipulating your thoughts through magical means."
Her thoughtful expression deepened as she got my point quite quickly. "So shielding your thoughts? That sounds incredibly useful."
"It is," I agreed gently, relieved she understood the seriousness. "Essential, even, especially when dealing with powerful magical knowledge... or magical enemies."
Understanding dawned visibly in Ginny's face, and her gaze sharpened. "Rigel…are you saying we might need protection from someone trying to read our minds?"
I hesitated, careful with my words. "I'm saying it's a valuable skill to have. Magic, particularly rare or hidden magic, can draw unwanted attention. Being able to shield your mind provides safety...and it's pretty useful in keeping your secrets safe, too."
Ginny's expression turned resolute, her voice quiet but determined. "Then how can I learn it?"
A smile curled onto my lips. I should've known she wouldn't shy away from a challenge. "It begins with meditation, learning to quieten and control your thoughts, and steady your emotions no matter what is happening. Once you've mastered that, you can begin strengthening your mental shields."
She nodded. "Can you show me how?"
I shifted slightly in my seat, turning fully toward her. Ginny instinctively mirrored my posture, alert and ready.
"First, you need to relax your breathing," I instructed softly, my voice dropping into a whisper. "Close your eyes. Focus on nothing but the rhythm of your breathing. Inhale slowly, hold it in briefly, and then exhale."
Ginny obediently closed her eyes, breathing deeply as instructed. The rise and fall of her chest slowly became steady. Her posture gradually softened, but her shoulders were still a bit tense.
'Good enough for her first try,' I remarked.
"Good," I murmured gently. "Now, let your mind drift slowly inward. Imagine a quiet, peaceful place, somewhere entirely your own, your own safe haven."
A gentle smile touched Ginny's lips, and for a long, comfortable moment, silence stretched between us, punctuated only by the sound of her breathing. Her mind visibly calmed as her shoulders lost their tension, her mana growing slowly, still and serene. Watching her closely, I couldn't help but admire how naturally she took to my instructions, how readily she trusted my words.
After several minutes, her eyes opened again. "Was that right?"
"It was a perfect first attempt," I reassured warmly. "Occlumency begins with precisely this kind of meditation. The next steps involve building mental barriers, visualizing your thoughts and memories behind carefully constructed shields. Eventually, these barriers become instinctive and can detect and repel an invasion."
Ginny's soft gaze lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Rigel. For trusting me with this."
I smiled softly, the warmth between us comforting. "You're welcome. It's important to keep your mind protected no matter the circumstances. You just need to follow through with this meditation until you can instinctively transport yourself into your safe haven, though it will take a long time for you to be able to form shields."
She nodded in understanding. Then, glancing back toward the map, she asked softly, "Will you tell me when you can?"
I hesitated only briefly, then met her gaze directly and said, "I promise."
The soft creak of another door opening interrupted our quiet moment, followed by Fred and George's boisterous laughter spilling into the common room.
Ginny smiled ruefully, rolling her eyes playfully. "Seems our moment is over."
I chuckled softly, gently rolling up the map and closing my notes, carefully tucking them away. "I suppose it did."
'There is a faster way to gain shields, but I don't think I should suggest attacking her mind...'
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AN- 50+ chapters on P.atreon!