✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
Undercroft, Hogwarts.
“You've been doing nothing but reading papers and muttering to yourself… Are you going to do anything entertaining anytime soon?” Sebastian drawls, sounding annoyed, from where he leans against the frame of his portrait.
I send him an annoyed glare, smoothing out the latest issue of the Daily Prophet. “I'm sorry if it's not entertaining you enough, Sebastian.” I say acerbically, “It's not like I've been busting my ass, spreading divination magic amongst my entire friend circle, to help me influence the news and the Wizengamot or anything…”
“Divination magic shouldn't even work like that…” Ominis grumbles almost inaudibly.
I ignore him, as has become my usual routine lately. If he is going to persist in having some sort of grudge against me, I am not going to deign to answer him or entertain him. He can suffice with just Sebastian and Tonks for stimulation - he'll break eventually.
He's an intellectual… Sebastian and Tonks will not be enough, if anything they might speed the process up. Merlin knows I sometimes just want to escape a conversation with either of them for various reasons.
I return to the newspaper, ignoring Sebastian needling Ominis in the background. The last few weeks had seen good progress in many ways, around both Hogwarts and beyond.
For one, my little trick on Quirrell had seen the man suspended - with pay - pending investigation. It had neatly removed him from Hogwarts for a month, which unfortunately would run out in a week… But it had given me time to work - without the niggling worry that he'd corner me somewhere and obliviate me again.
It's the little things you notice now, like with so many portraits around Hogwarts, they really still have way too many stretches of the castle with no portraits, aka, no witnesses…
With spring arriving, the end of the year is only a few short months away, I'm getting close to the inevitable conclusion, and I can't help but hope Quirrell dies here, just as he did in canon.
Defense against the Dark Arts is being taught by one of the Aurors stationed at Hogwarts right now, which has also eased the pressure somewhat - the class is almost enjoyable at the moment.
Well except all the students glaring at me…
I have been using divination to follow along on the investigation, or not so much follow really, as spying the end result ahead of time (handy that) - so I already know Quirrell will return. There just isn't enough proof that he is behind the happenings at Hogwarts. If anything, my little attack has some of the Aurors believing the man is being framed. Which is sort of right, but he's being framed for being guilty, so…
I sigh, returning my gaze to the headline of today's Prophet, putting Quirrell out of my mind for now. Success should taste better than this… I can't help but think forlornly.
While the muggleborn culture law could not be repelled by any means I have available to me - it could be, and have been - reworked.
Yesterday, finally… After weeks of work, the Prophet is now reporting on how the committee working on the implementation of the law have taken ‘recent events’ into consideration, and ensured there would be equal representation in the implementation of the law.
Sounds boring, but it is the best I could achieve. Muggleborns everywhere in Britain would still have to do the competency tests and early schooling - which I am not necessarily opposed to in the first place, as more knowledge would only help those new to the magical world.
Early schooling at least should fix some of the problems that set the factions apart in the first place - like slack jawed muggleborns arriving at Hogwarts and messing up for months. As it had been, it wouldn't have been good though.
The problem had lain in only the dark faction supervising the program, deciding what books to use, how the tests would be made, the schooling, all of it. Now… After a Prophet campaign spanning weeks, I've managed to get every faction involved in the disposition of the committee - ensuring anything that would trickle down to muggleborns, would have to pass through, accepted by both light and dark.
So it would probably suck, as compromises generally did, but at least it wouldn't be evil.
It hadn't been easy at all, utilizing my friends for divination purposes, all to separate the different reporters that could be trusted at the Daily Prophet - to ensure my point would be made without too much embellishment.
Not surprisingly, there hadn't been many positives for finding trustworthy reporters…
There were so many variables to go through that even with a whole group using divination together, it had been a slog.
It hadn't been helped by the golden trio switching off after a few days, mere acquaintances to us all more than anything - their general skepticism about divination was giving poor results all throughout those first days, but at least their poor results worked as a counterpoint, before they left. In their failures, they were still useful, but Hermione and failures didn't go well… So off they went.
I wasn't really sad to see them go, I don't mind helping Harry to be stronger - but I don't want to be too heavily involved in his clusterfuck life either.
I have enough issues without standing in the splash zone of Harry ‘everyone wants a piece’ Potter. Quirrell’s detentions had brought us together, but only in a mostly superficial way, the training we were doing didn't invite much conversation, so we haven't really gotten close.
Hermione is still of the mistaken belief she will one day catch up to me. Which is cute. I already got OWLs and NEWTs sweetie…
Besides, even if by some miracle she catches up… She'll still lose, because her non believing ass will never catch up to me in Divination.
Divination really is an amazing piece of magic, and such a useful tool to boot, there's no way the campaign would have succeeded without it.
Rolling the dice everyday to find a reporter I could trust, then rolling the dice to find a reporter amongst those trustworthy that could actually get the story through the editor… Then rolling to find the version of the story that could get past the editor that would have the greatest effect on the law…
I have had a divination induced migraine for weeks now, and I haven't even been doing most of the actual divination magic, my friends have!
I let my head fall down on top of the newspaper stack, letting loose a sigh, feeling some of the stress of the last few weeks slide off.
“Maybe they'll finally get off my case now…” I mumble quietly, referencing the massive hate on - that the muggleborns of Hogwarts have had for me lately. Blaming me for the law is ridiculous considering I'm nothing but a cheap patsy for the pureblood movement to point at and say - see, it works! Yet they still do.
People are generally ridiculous and believe anything if it's repeated often enough though, and boy do purebloods love repeating how my passion for history and magical culture birthed the law…
Fucking Draco Malfoy in particular…
“That's not how humans work.” Sebastian calls out cheerfully, answering my mumbled thoughts.
I sigh yet again, rising up, stretching, feeling my body protest after hours of sitting still. I turn towards Sebastian and Ominis, frowning, “I know people are petty dumb sheep, you tell me so often.” I say sarcastically, running a hand through my hair, grimacing at the dusty feel. I'm spending too much time hunched over books and parchment in dark corners, I think with tired bemusement.
Sebastian scoffs, looking over towards Ominis to see if he is going to interject, but the blind portrait simply crosses his arms silently. Sebastian turns back to look at me, a self satisfied smirk on his face, “Somehow you've gotten through this whole year almost, with an intact belief in humanity, it's really a failing, I blame your Hufflepuffness.”
“You blame everything on my Hufflepuffness…” I say dryly, “I'm late for breakfast, it's because I'm a Hufflepuff, I slip, it's because I wear black and yellow robes, someone hits me with a stinging hex to the back of my head - again - it's because I'm a Hufflepuff…”
Sebastian's smirk grows even smugger, “Well, when I'm right, I'm right!” He has a sly look to his features as he continues, “Except this time it's not so much that, as it is your silly belief that you've changed anything.”
I grimace, looking away. I'm well aware I haven't really fixed anything. I've more… Equalized it slightly, where it will be less prone to abuse. “I did what I could, it will have to be enough.” I say with tired finality, my dark bags have bags on them from how much time I've spent either working divination magic myself - or supervising it - not to mention studying as much as I could find on the subject.
“You should have saved yourself the bother,” Sebastian says flippantly, Ominis nodding, then looks surprised at himself for agreeing, Sebastian's smile growing as he spots it, “See, even Ominis agrees! Do you really think all the little anklebiters in the castle are going to even notice a change to the law? Or care? They'll still blame you for its existence.” Sebastian chuckles, shaking his head with a mocking tilt to his lips, “Which is farcical to begin with, but one can not attribute too much intelligence to the masses I suppose, especially muggleborns.”
I almost forget at times that I'm dealing with Slytherins, even if it's in portrait form. While not inherently racist as most of their living peers - Sebastian and Ominis still look at muggleborn as amusing distant cousins, the kind that might wrestle with pigs for amusement or something equally low brow. It is beyond irritating.
Before I can give a scathing reply, the secret entrance to the Undercroft opens up, depositing Tonks, who immediately brightens at seeing me, bouncing forward with a cheery wave, “Wotcher, Lucas!”
“Hello, Tonks.” I say, limply waving back, not really having the energy to match her.
“What's with the grumpy reply, baby raven?” She questions, coming forward to hug me to her side, “You won, you got what you needed out of all your hard work, all of my hard work as your helper, you should be over the moon!”
I detach myself from her, sighing, “I'm pleased it worked, but over the moon might be shooting too high, Tonks.” The brightest muggleborn might understand how the law change benefits them - the rest… Aren't going to like me much going forward no matter what.
Not what I would have imagined starting the year, that the muggleborns, not the Purebloods, would be the ones hating my guts.
Tonks scoffs, ruffling my hair, before grimacing and shaking her hand slightly, “Did you make out with a spider web or something, kiddo? Blech!” She grabs her wand and before I can protest - or duck - she blasts me with a silent scourgify, cleaning my hair, but also my desk, sending papers flying everywhere.
“...Thanks for the help.” I say, very dryly. I also peer at her, inwardly frowning over just how… Forced, her cheeriness feels.
She makes a flourish with her wand, an irreverent grin on her face, “You're welcome!” She chirps, before ruffling my hair again, this time without dust or spiderwebs impeding her. “Seriously though, you're actually famous, you know? The articles got the Wizengamot to mention you when discussing the law!”
Fame is a fickle mistress… I can't help but think, since just a small dose of local fame had been enough to set this entire thing in motion - people using my slight fame - to their advantage, not mine. “It's really not all that good to have the attention of the Wizengamot as a first year student, Tonks.” I mutter.
“Oh, he's just being a pathetic little flobberworm, ignore his whinging and come chat with me instead, beautiful!” Sebastian interjects with a slight leer.
“Please don't humor him.” Ominis says quickly, earning a cry of “Traitor!” From Sebastian.
Tonks fingers her wand, giving Sebastian the evil eye, “Don't say that about my friend…” She threatens lowly, alarming me a little at how vicious she sounds all of a sudden for such a minor thing.
I put my hand on her wrist, lowering her wand hand which had begun to raise in the air. “Ignore him Tonks, he's just looking to get a rise out of us because he's bored.” I say, giving Sebastian a look that the Slytherin can easily parse. You owe me one.
I switch the subject before Tonks can set the portrait on fire - or worse, go back to what she'd been doing with him previously… “Did you need something, Tonks? Why did you come looking for me?” I ask, pulling on her arm to position her facing away from the easily burned portraits.
Tonks gives Sebastian one last lingering threatening look, before she slides her wand back into its holster, and focuses on me, a mischievous look appearing on her face that instantly sets me on guard.
“What?” I ask cautiously.
“I have been deputized!” Tonks says mock solemnly, grasping me by the shoulders, “To escort you post haste to the victory party.”
Of course… I sigh, but my lips twitch into a reluctant smile, of course my friends would want to celebrate our success. “Alright, deputy Tonks, lead on.” I say, because what else can I do?
I'm not going to ruin the mood of all my friends by pointing out how this victory was only the first step in a new war, one we couldn't possibly win as we were. Too young by far, and facing people with real political power. Divination is only a slight advantage, one that can't overcome everything.
So I smile, dropping my pessimistic outlook for now, meeting Tonks cheerful gaze straight on, “I assume there's cake?” I ask, drawing a more genuine smile from the older girl.
“Of course! And I'll even do you a favor and not spell it into your face, baby raven!” She teases, as she leads me out of the Undercroft.
She's joking, but I actually feel better knowing she's not going to prank me the second I step inside, I think, purposefully trying to drag my thoughts away from Quirrell and the muggleborn law.
I can't wait for this year to be done, so I can focus on magic and the mysteries of Hogwarts - instead of all these crazy things.
Yeah right… Like next year is going to be nice and calm… I think to myself.
I'm going to be a horrible partygoer at this rate…
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
Despite the party only consisting of my friends - which means no golden trio - I still find myself at the periphery, squeezed into a couch between Padma and Su, both seemingly equally against the loud chatter between Hannah, Susan and Tonks.
Poor Neville, seemingly not having the courage to slink away, is stuck in-between them, looking a little harried as the girls loudly debate fashion and other girly things I just couldn't find myself willing to suffer through. Friendship has its limits - and fashion and design is rapidly becoming mine.
“Well… At least he'll be trained up already if he marries a fashion obsessed girl.” I point out to my seatmates dryly, nodding at the increasingly forlorn looking Neville at the table.
All the snacks and the cake were there at the table, but the rest of us had abandoned the food for a more sedate pace at the edge of the training room, although with the couch having been conjured by Tonks… Odds were we'd soon find it disappearing on us.
Su giggles slightly, covering her mouth, “He could marry your sister, Padma.” She teases gently.
Padma wrinkles her nose, “No thank you, I wouldn't let a friend walk into hell like that.” In true Ravenclaw fashion - she's brought a book to the party.
“Hell is a bit of a strong word.” I say, before raising my hand defensively as Padma turns her head slowly, glaring at me with an utterly serious expression, “Okay, Parvati is utter hell, stop giving me the demon eyes!” I plead.
Su giggles again, eyes glittering with mischief as she watches us both, “Lucas would be a good fit for Parvati instead, right?”
Padma and I give her equal looks of disgust, as I move to nix the direction this conversation is heading, “We're first years, stop with the marriage talk, it's painful.”
“What? So my sister isn't good enough for you, is that it?” Padma interjects, drier than a desert. My consternation only lasts long enough to turn around, before I see her face and realize she is just messing with me now too, I slump slightly in my seat.
“This is what I get for befriending mostly girls, Neville never teases me about marriage prospects…” I grumble, only half faking it.
I yelp as I receive a pinch to the arm from Padma, even gentle quiet Su - giving me a look like I deserve it. I rub my arm, meeting Padma’s stern gaze, “Alright, I get that one, but next time I'll hex you.” I say, kind of deserving that pinch, this time.
“You need to sit back and relax.” Padma says decisively, pushing me gently to make me slouch deeper into the couch, “With everything you're doing and how you're acting - you're starting to seem as old as the professors.”
Something I've noticed myself, I think, having evolved far from the silliness of first entering the magical world, my Legilimency sessions assisting in knocking loose more of my old memories and personality - fixing the damage I've done to myself.
Su nods seriously, her eyes still having that slight mischievous spark as she pipes in, “Sometimes I almost reply back with a sir, when you speak.” She teases me, sharing a companionable look with Padma.
“If you don't watch out I'll give you homework too.” I threaten lightly, smiling as Su laughs at the idea, even Padma cracking a smile, albeit a brief one.
“So, how are things in Ravenclaw? Improving?” I ask carefully, not wanting to ruin the good mood, but my active mind refuses to leave something alone.
Su doesn't look too bothered by it, shrugging lightly, pulling her knees up to her chest, putting her arms around her legs, not exactly selling it with the body language there Su… I think.
“They're not bad, it's alright…” She says after a moment of thinking it over, leaning her head down to rest it on her knees, looking over at me and Padma, “I have Padma, and you guys, so it's not like I'm lonely.”
I nod, taking it all in, glancing at Padma with an inquisitive eyebrow raised, “And now for the complete unvarnished truth… Padma, how are things in Ravenclaw?” I ask, smirking as Su smashes a tiny fist into my shoulder on that side, offended I didn't take her word for it.
Padma smirks, putting her book down, carefully ensuring her bookmark is placed, before eyeing me and Su, “Su is mostly not lying.” She says matter of factly, some distaste slipping into her tone as she continues, “Some of the others are still fairly openly antagonistic to us, for the same stupid reason as before.” She didn't seem overly bothered by it, neither did Su, so it must be limited to attitude then, not active bullying or slurs.
If they were… I will protect my friends…
I shake my head though, at the moronic logic of racists everywhere - like Padma and Su being of Indian and Asian heritage mattered when it came to magic! “I bet they're taking it well then that the two of you top Ravenclaw firsties in the rankings.” I quip, getting a proud smile out of both my Ravenclaw friends.
Class rankings were of great importance to Ravenclaws, and as smart as the two girls already were - our study group encapsulated all the subjects, which led to them greatly eclipsing the other students in their house.
Except for Neville and Hannah, our group tops everything in the class rankings, although Neville and Hannah did crack the top ten when it came to Herbology - if by cracked I mean they took the two top spots after me.
I do have kind of an advantage, although I have no doubt Neville will shoot far ahead of me by the time we graduate, the boy really has the green thumb that I lack - I just have superior study techniques and an adult mind (mostly) that beats out his knowledge and skills at this level.
Hermione is the only one that really manages to compete with Padma, Su and Susan. I'm of course out of reach of any of them, but even with that, Hermione hadn't caught up until she too had joined the study group.
“Oh, they're taking it very well.” Padma says, breaking me out of my thoughts, a sly little smirk on her lips, “Apparently you're cheating and supplying us with all the answers.”
I blink, taken aback, glancing at Su for confirmation and getting a slight nod and a quiet giggle from the girl. “I thought Ravenclaws were supposed to be smart?” I say, somewhat bewildered at the leaps of logic the little brats are making, “We don't even share all the classes, how am I supplying you with answers in the classes I'm not around, do they figure?” I ask, honestly curious what logic they used to defend their supposition.
“Divination!” Both girls chorus, drawing a chuckle out of me. Because honestly, I definitely could provide them with test answers in advance like that - so the little brats were actually kind of right, even if they were totally wrong.
“Hey, you bookish nerds don't get to sit by yourself all day, come eat cake!” Tonks shouts, waving her wand threateningly at the cake, giving them all the idea that if they didn't come to the cake - the cake might come to them.
I stand up, pulling Su and Padma up with me, “I know you're jealous of our intelligence, Tonks, there's no need to shout it out for everyone.”
The cake I got to the face was worth the offended look on hers.
I regret nothing.
Besides the giggles it drew from my friends, and the happy smiles all around, were great.
It felt good, felt like this year might actually be more than dangerous enemies and magic.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
Hours later, Hufflepuff common room.
“My Nan is going crazy because of you, Lucas.” Neville moans, as he slumps over the table we've taken at the far edges of the common room, the more prime spots near the large tree in the middle of the room, taken up by older students.
“We'll, I'll consider that a success.” I reply glibly, Hannah giggling as Neville gives me a dirty look.
“I'd think she'd be happy that we all managed to get her on the committee for the muggleborn expansion?” Susan asks, tilting her head curiously, “Is she upset at you for helping?” She queries.
The muggleborn expansion… Well… Sounds better than muggleborn re-education I suppose, I think with distaste, even as I pay attention to my friends.
“Yes, no, maybe, I don't know.” Neville groans piteously, resting his cheek on the cool surface of the wooden table.
“Well as long as you're absolutely certain…” Hanna says dryly, lips still twitching.
“Hannah, be nice.” Susan says absentmindedly, swatting her shoulder gently, “I don't understand though, the dice said she'd be a good choice?” Her eyes sought out mine, the question hanging in the air for me to pick up on.
I ignore it, because I have no idea if this particular point was erroneous in its prediction, or if this is just silly drama from Neville, therefore I poke the boy himself, “Neville, mate, what exactly is she complaining about?” I ask.
“Everything… All the extra work, the fact they already had a deal in place that they now had to rip up and renegotiate… When I made the mistake of telling her in a letter that I helped with the Daily Prophet campaign…” Neville sighs, looking confused yet pleased at the same time, “She told me she was proud of me… Then she railed at me for three whole pages on how many difficulties I've created for her.”
The rest of us exchange a look, I'm not even sure what to say, really. The Dowager Longbottom is one bitchy battle axe - and apparently incapable of just telling Neville good job - without adding a caveat.
Susan, thankfully steps in with the right move at the right time, reaching over to squeeze Neville's hand, “Good job, Neville, she's proud of you, that's all that matters.” She says kindly, her gaze warm.
Hannah immediately jumps on the same trail, “Yeah, she's definitely seeing how good you're doing in Hufflepuff, she hasn't said anything bad about the house lately, yeah?” Before Neville can open his mouth and say anything to dispute that view, Hannah rushes on, patting him on the shoulder, “So just look at the positives!”
With how hard and enthusiastically she's patting his shoulder, I almost hear an or else, in that. As for myself, I simply smile at Neville, giving him a thumbs up.
Neville has reddened slightly during this entire flush of positivity, but he smiles, “Thank you, you're right, she did say she is proud of me, that's what matters!” He lifts off the table, only to faceplant right back into it as one of Hannah's enthusiastic pats slap down a bit too hard - drawing laughs out of all of us, even Neville, as Hannah giggles her apologies.
“Divination is a lot cooler than I had thought, though.” Susan brings up, eyes sparkling a little as she makes excited gestures in the air in front of her, “Just… Throwing some dice and seeing the future. And it works!” She exclaims excitedly.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Hannah snorts, shaking her head, “Don't get Lucas started.” She warns, giving me a teasing look.
I cross my arms and scoff, “You say that, but who did I catch rolling dice this morning and asking the likelihood of Cedric Diggory going out with her?”
Seriously, is it a magical world thing? Why are people so obsessed with crushes, love and dating? Maybe I just don't remember being a kid… I think, rolling my eyes as Hannah blushes beet red, Susan gently ribbing her for getting caught out, or asking for the result, who knows with girls.
“My dice…” I add, raising an eyebrow inquisitively at her.
Hannah squirms, fending off Susan who's got a large grin on her face and is pressing up against Hannah whispering and giggling about something. “I don't have them anymore. N-not that I did what you said, I was asking something d-different!”
“Then who has them?” I ask, somewhat bemused at how quickly the Divination bug had hit my friend circle. So opposite the golden trio who'd broken off rather than keep trying with it.
Their loss, considering Harry's potential issues over the next couple of years - he could have really used an edge. Or let's be honest, Hermione could have used one - since she's the one who'd do the work and then manage Harry as best as she could.
Neville fumbles with something at his waist, before bringing up my little baggie of dice, handing them to me, with an apologetic look, “Sorry, Lucas… Someone…” He gives Hannah a weak glare, one that gets watered down even more as she just cheerily smiles back at him, “Told me you had lent them out for the day.”
I play with the dice in my hand, pouring them out of my bag, an amused smirk on my face, “I wasn't aware taking them when I'm not looking is borrowing now.”
“Aggressive borrowing?” Hannah says/asks sheepishly.
I roll my eyes, “Just ask next time, or better yet get your own, they'll work better.”
“I'll buy you some for your birthday, Hannah!” Susan says, an impish look to her.
Hannah gasps as if mortally wounded, “You can't tell me what you are getting for my birthday, that's like, ruining the magic.”
I roll some dice between my fingers, “I could tell you exactly what you're getting…” I tease, in deadpan.
Honestly, this whole new thing with outsourcing Divination is really a terrible, yet amazing idea.
It wouldn't work without the strong belief they have in it through me and seeing me work it, but because it works - it has so many benefits it's staggering.
I know shit is going to fly as we get closer to the end of the year, the advantages in being able to ask several questions daily - and get a prediction, is just priceless.
Yes, it won't be entirely as accurate as myself doing it all, as I've noticed during these past few weeks of doing it with them all. But even an 80 percent reliability that can then be substantiated with my own use…
Game changer.
Divination might truly become my one saving grace for this year. The one thing that will pull me through whatever Quirrell will do.
And it's a bit humbling… That it will only work in the first place because of how much faith my friends have in me, in what I'm saying, in my interpretation of the magic.
Friendship is magic, confirmed?
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
Two days later.
I admit to being a little bit evil at times. Like right now, walking with Su up the stairs to the Astronomy tower.
I have her dainty hand in mine, the girl blushing furiously as we walk hand in hand through the halls and up the stairs. For me, it is simply a matter of trying to draw her out a little bit more, albeit I admit I also enjoy teasing her. She is cute when she gets all tomato red, after all. They were all cute kids really, I think, feeling old again. I've had years to get used to being young, but it never quite settles completely.
My own brain scramble hadn't helped any.
There's always small things that just throw you off, or brings up a memory that jars with my body or current feelings. More so now that some of my own old memories are starting to trickle through again.
“So… You really want to try Divination out? You enjoyed the work we did over the last few weeks?” I ask the diminutive girl.
Su nods shyly, “It's really interesting, and how it intersects with math and probability is kind of exciting.”
I chuckle wryly, “Such a Ravenclaw answer.” I tease, squeezing her hand gently. “I'm definitely happy to help you or give pointers, Divination is an amazing form of magic that isn't given enough credit.”
Considering most of the wizarding world thought of it as the tool of charlatans and not real magic - the reputation of the subject probably couldn't be much lower than the last few decades.
Not counting prophecies, because apparently, even with the low belief in Divination - people believed in those. As usual, wizards and witches made absolutely no sense.
“Why are we going up to the Astronomy tower?” Su asks inquisitively, peering up at me from underneath long eyelashes, her demure expression only reminding me of her capabilities to be quite explosive when she needed to be - earning the nickname spitfire that she got from her mom.
I look upwards, almost able to picture the room that would afford us an unhindered view of the stars. “The stars and celestial bodies have an influence on Divination, especially Divination rituals. I figured I could teach you a small one just to show you what you can learn with this magic, and to see how well suited you are to it.”
I also want to have Professor Sinistra around, believing she will approve of this due to its connection to Astronomy. The last thing I need is someone believing I'm corrupting poor Su with evil rituals or something. Professor Sinistra, in our brief talks when we'd meet in the Astronomy tower - seems much more chill about magic, then say McGonagall, will be.
Su squeaks in excitement, hand clasping tighter around mine, “A ritual!? You're going to show me a real ritual?”
I smirk at her, pleased at her obvious excitement at new magic, “No… You're going to perform a ritual, I'm just helping you through the steps.”
Su looks nervous but determined as she nods, concentrating on moving up the staircase, no doubt not wanting to ask too much before we get there.
We climb the stairs in silence for a moment, before Su can't contain herself, “What kind of ritual? Is it even legal? Of course it's legal or we wouldn't do it, but… Is it? Do we need reagents, was I supposed to bring reagents? What if I mess it up?”
I laugh at the barrage of questions, continuing up the stairs as I squeeze her hand comfortingly, “You have nothing to worry about, Su, it's legal, everything we need is already there, it's just a minor ritual, and you won't mess it up, I promise.”
I kind of like having a protege even if it's a bit early to call it that. Divination is just so… Wonderful and not even fully explored, it's just nice to share it with someone else, someone new. “Just believe and that's half the battle won, and I believe in you too, Su, so there's all the battle won, eh?” I say, a bit campy maybe, but it gets a cute blush, so I consider it a win.
“Now this is just adorable.” We both hear, as our heads jerk up to the top of the stairs, where Professor Sinistra is standing, arms crossed, an amused smirk on her face.
“Professor Sinistra!” We both chorus, Su blushing even worse, her hand slipping out of mine as she squirms on the spot.
“I knew I'd get two students excited about the synergy between Astronomy and Divination, always a good time for a teacher to see her students push the envelope in search of more knowledge - but I hadn't expected you two to be so cute about it!” From the smirk on her face widening and the wink she gave us, she is totally messing with us, definitely different from her strict standards in class.
She's no McGonagall for sure, probably why she's my favorite teacher… Most days. I give her a look, before I turn and nudge Su, “Don't worry, Su, when we're not in class she's a softy, really.”
Aurora's eyes soften as she smiles more genuinely down at Su, “I apologize if my teasing made you uncomfortable, miss Li. I have a more personable rapport with my more exceptional students.”
“She means me.” I stage whisper, giving Su another nudge, drawing a smile out of her.
“Why don't we go and get set up, the room is ready for you.” Aurora says gently, obviously picking up on Su’s general shyness. They don't interact much in class from what I know, as Su isn't one to generally need any help or asks questions on a subject - when she can read up on it herself.
Aurora leads us to the space room, the magic surrounding us in the expertly crafted environment both soothing and exciting me as usual. How could one not be thrilled at the surroundings when literal galaxies could be spied around you.
The view in front of us is of some distant planet, swirled in red and yellow colors and spots. Aurora fiddles with the settings for the room for a moment, and both Su and I let out a gasp as the view all around us changes, space drawing back, planets, stars, comets and every wonder of the celestial speeding by us - until we're left looking at a normal night sky, stars twinkling around us.
Su’s eyes are wide open as she just takes it all in, an excited trill escaping her, that I'm not sure she even notices, as she looks around with an awed expression on her face.
“Cool, huh?” I ask, jolting her out of it, “Ready to try out some real Divination?” I ask, seeing Aurora step back against the wall quietly, observing but not stepping in, seeing how shy Su had been around her.
“Is cubomancy not really Divination?” Su asked curiously, “I placed an order for my own dice, I… I wanted to keep using it.” She admits, and I can't help but feel invigorated that she wants to learn this, because of me. I am making some difference, some positive differences.
“It definitely is.” I assure her, my smile stuck to my face at her genuine joy and curiosity at practicing Divination. “It's just the kind where really anyone could do it with a little faith, whereas Divination rituals require a bit more, hence real Divination.”
I direct her towards where there's a bowl sitting unassumingly on a desk. I gesture to it, “One thing to know about Divination is that intent is the main factor above all else, coupled with belief…”
“Aguamenti” I call out softly, filling the bowl with clear, magic rich water. “This first time I'm setting it all up for you, and you'll actually do the ritual, but going forward, you'll get better results if your hand takes part in each step.”
Su nods, watching intently, “Stars above, silver bowl, clear magic rich water, is this a ritual for scrying?” She asks, having obviously devoured anything she could find on Divination, like a proper little Ravenclaw.
I give her a smile, “In a way yes, not in the way you're probably thinking though, but there are many different ways to scry - this one in particular is for scrying yourself.”
“Scrying myself?” Su asks, sounding unsure, wrinkling her nose slightly. “I already know where I am…”
Aurora coughs amusedly in the background, I studiously ignore her and explain it to Su, “Scrying is not only to find someone or something, like many things in Divination its use is multipurpose. For scrying yourself, the purpose is to realize a truth about yourself, nothing too dramatic, just self reflection in a way, with unvarnished magical truth to help you find your way.”
Su’s eyes light up, “Like tarot cards! They're also about discovering yourself, not about reading someone else's future, right?”
I cough, not wanting to get into a full lecture on Divination or we'll never leave, “In essence, yes, although there are other ways to use Tarot cards as well, but we have something else to do today.” I really need to get a proper Tarot deck at some point… I think, having not explored that particular avenue of Divination yet.
As Su prepares for her first minor ritual, Aurora approaches me, with a twinkle in her eye.
“What?” I ask somewhat defensively, before catching myself, coughing lightly again, “I mean, what? Professor…”
She studies me for a moment, eyes almost unfocused, before she smirks slowly, “You could make a good teacher one day, Lucas.” She says warmly.
I can feel the tips of my ears burning, “I just regurgitate facts about my favorite subject, it's nothing.” I deflect. Staying at Hogwarts forever.. I wouldn't mind it if it calmed down…
She shakes her head, tapping one finger on her wand absentmindedly, “No, you really did well in keeping her on track, soothing any worries and showing your passion, you should think on it, one day you really could make a wonderful teacher.”
I eye Su, as she slowly gets into a meditation position in front of the silver bowl, ready for me to come instruct her on the rest of the process. “Maybe.” I say, not wanting to think too hard on a future so far away. Or the depressing thoughts about the likelihood of survival that long…
Aurora pats me on the shoulder gently, “I'm really glad you're still coming up here despite passing out of my class, I have my own ritual in mind for the end of the year… Would you mind attending it with me?” She asks, looking at me expectantly.
“Umm, sure…” I say, thrown off a little, because although she's my favorite teacher, she's never really offered much in ways of personal instruction, let alone offering for me to witness a ritual of her own making.
“Splendid, now you better help your pupil before she gets impatient.” Aurora says wryly, giving me a little shove towards Su.
I give her another lingering look, before I concentrate on Su.
It might be necessary for my own Divination ritual again, I trust Professor Sinistra as much as I do anyone else really. But walking into someone's ritual unprepared is just dangerous.
I'll have to see what I can Divine.
…
Hours later, after a successful ritual performed by Su, not that the blushing girl would tell me what truth about herself had been laid bare for her - I did my own little probability ritual.
Nothing too fancy, as I still can't perform a vast scrying ritual within Hogwarts due to my previous one, and a lack of reagents.
So I simply scried a simple question, the outcome of attending a ritual with Professor Sinistra?
Using cubomancy with lettered dice didn't work as well for me most of the time, because of how often I used my dice - but this time as I roll, I haven't been using Divination for awhile, my friend circle having been doing it for me, so it should turn out ok.
Death.
Okay….
I suddenly have many more questions…
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
I amble down the hallway towards the History of Magic classroom, feeling ambivalent towards this latest development in my life. I've been invited for tea time again, a regular occurrence these past few weeks - Professor Haywood eager to talk about History of Magic and ancient magical cultures with me.
In one way it makes sense - I likely could teach the class, having gotten better grades then her, the actual professor in the subject. Yet at the same time, like all the other oddities with my existence, there's just something inherently odd in chatting with a professor like this, while being a first year.
Even as I'm wary and suspicious about if there's something else behind this, I still crave the discussions, the almost peer-like adult conversations, albeit in an educational fashion - like it's a soothing balm on my soul after dealing with young children on a constant basis.
I know I am a child as well by all possible metrics, but now that my mind is slowly repairing itself, I don't feel like one.
A couple more weeks of Legilimency on Pettigrew and I might even feel safe to start unraveling some of the Obliviations…
I almost don't want to know what Quirrell is hiding from me - considering how openly horrible he's been as a person. How bad is the stuff he hides I wonder... I shudder briefly, needing to know, but fearing the result. That's future me's problem… Just like whatever horrible thing is going to happen with Professor Sinistra…
I come upon the corner before the last hallway, the one containing the classroom, and I come to a stop, hearing voices, one of which is Professor Haywoods. I don't want to interrupt if she's finishing up a meeting, and part of me is also easily eavesdropping, because I am suspicious of the new professor.
The Professor is practically Tonks age and I consider her an adult, yet I can't quite treat Tonks like an adult despite the similarities in age, she certainly doesn't behave much like one… Also, she certainly does not seem stable. No one so easily agrees to kidnapping and torturing a random stranger, Death Eater or not - for someone else, someone not even a friend for a year - if they're sane.
“Penny, d-don't… Don't say her name again!” I can feel the suffering from here, the tone of voice filled with anger and pain.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, leaning back against the wall. Damn… That is Tonks voice, speak of the devil… I've never heard her so… Cracked before, is that the word? Fragile? An uncomfortable knot takes hold in my stomach, I keep pushing off dealing with this… I'm not a very good friend… I can't help but think, lowering my head as I hear a desperate sob before it's viciously shut down.
I close my eyes, leaning my head against the wall heavily. Damn it…
“Tonks… Dora… I'm here for you, I… I know things are different, I'm a Professor now, I know she isn't he-” Professor Haywood seems more hesitant then I've ever heard her, like she's not sure what she's dealing with.
Welcome to my whole year dealing with Tonks. I think, grimly. I should have done more, I can literally feel an aura of despair wafting down the hallway. Why did I keep ignoring her issues? Convenience?
I'm not a first year, not really. I need to stop acting like it.
“DON'T!” Tonks shouts, sounding bloody pissed, “Don't talk about her, she's GONE!”
I can hear the hesitation in Professor Haywoods voice as she replies, “Tonks, we need to talk about this, it's obviously hurting you, I know… We kind of drifted apart a little once I left Hogwarts, but I'm here now, just come into my office, we can talk, sort out your problems and find a good way forward for the rest of the year.”
I wince, that sounds perfectly reasonable, and also very Professor-like, exactly the kind of thing I doubt Tonks will care about right now. She needs a friend, not a Professor.
I'm proven correct seconds later as Tonks snarls out a definitive no, and storms off down the hallway, passing by me without even noticing me, tear tracks down her face.
I look towards the hallway that would take me to the Professor and our tea time discussion - and shake my head, I have better places to be. I decide, turning to follow Tonks.
I haven't done a good job of actually being her friend, other than hanging out with her and letting her goof around and have a safe space - I haven't made any effort to really get to know her, help her with her pain. She's obviously dealing with a lot, and because I have been as well, I've let her fall to the wayside, even after she's done so much to help me. Almost died to help me.
My face firms up as I begin to walk faster. No matter what else, what is left of the year, what dangers there are. This takes precedence, I will not let Tonks down! Not again.
What is the point of an adult mind and the knowledge I hold, if I don't use it to help the people around me?
If I don't make the world a better place, make it better for the people around me? Then what even is the point of me being here in this world?
I… Have been a terrible Hufflepuff.
Merlin damned Hat is wrong about me…
Loyal my ass…
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
“Bombarda! Confringo!” Tonks screamed, stabbing her wand forward, uncaring of the destruction she was wreaking to her favorite training room. It would be fixed or it wouldn't, what did it even matter anymore, anyway?
Her voice cracked as she tried to cast another Bombarda, the spell fizzling out at the tip of her wand. Her chest heaved with desperate breaths, her sweat soaked robes clinging to her form, maybe she imagined the feeling of its weight pulling her down, or maybe it was the weight of everything pushing, pushing, a neverending force intent to push her down.
Down into nothing, down into dirt.
Tonks allowed herself to fall to the floor in a heap, stifling a sob, her wand rolling away on the floor from her limp fingers. She watched it go, feeling the cracks within herself expanding.
She was so… Tired… Was it even worth it anymore?
She'd been so excited when her wand had chosen her. With Hogwarts to look forward to - it had seemed like such a grand adventure. To meet other people, to have friends! She'd been too young to realize… How they'd been on the edge of society for a reason. The blood traitors and discarded refuse of house Black, banished and ridiculed. There had been a reason her mother had hardly ever let her leave the house until she started Hogwarts.
It had left Tonks far too naive. An incredible failure on her mum's part, what with having been Andromeda Black. So strong and poised, Tonks girlhood idol. And she'd… Just raised Tonks as a stupid little girl with dreams that were impossible!
The joke on her being that in the last year or two, the Blacks had practically died out, whoever wasn't dead was so reclusive it hardly mattered. All which left her mum free to re-enter society again, with only the odd dirty look. Too late for anything to matter for Tonks, of course.
It was always too late for anything to matter with her, too late to help, too late to be helped, too late to save Op-
She violently crushed that thought.
Tonks cackled suddenly, unable to stop, folding in half as she laughed and laughed. Tears flowing in rivulets down her face as she enjoyed the laugh that life had at her expense.
Enjoyed wasn't the right word maybe, but fuck it, she bloody well doesn't have to get it right when she's falling apart… No one would care anyway, not anymore… Not with her failing so badly at covering the cracks, at showing everyone she was fine, just fiiiine, nothing to see!
All she'd ever wanted was friends. That was it really. The only thing. Spending childhood practically alone had been so stifling, with only her own mind as a companion, it had almost been like having a friend - but she'd wanted real friends.
Someone like you doesn't deserve friends… Something whispered inside her.
She took it in as usual, and then ignored it, just cuz it was right didn't mean she had to listen to that part of herself too long.
Hogwarts had been…
Tonks splayed out on the floor, angrily wiping at her face, pushing aside the sweat soaked strands of hair stuck to it, black at the moment, like her mood. she half laughed, half cried as she thought of her damn heritage.
Black was so fitting, the color suited her and her life, all black, all the time - the madness in the family… Was it behind why she was so fucked up? Or was that just a Tonks special?
Hogwarts had been her dream, her saving grace, the magical thing that was going to set her free. She'd have actual real friends and adventure, a life of her own! Fuck Hogwarts! She thought bitterly, at the same time as she felt the deep love she'd always had for the castle, burning deep inside her torn asunder heart - maybe the only thing she had left. Tonks snorted, because that made sense. Fuck Hogwarts, love Hogwarts, I can't even be consistent in my own bloody useless head…
The only constant had been… No… She wouldn't think of her. No. Not anymore. Tonks covered her traitorous eyes. No. Not tears. You're going to be an Auror, grow up you fucking pussy! She thought viciously, tearing at her own hair, the pain soothing in a way.
Her constant need for friendship, companionship… Had… Not gone well for most of her Hogwarts years.
Except… She-who-shall-not-be-named… She'd made friends easily enough at first… Even with many of the purebloods calling her half-breed and mutt and other hurtful things she'd learned to take on the chin. Claiming her metamorphing abilities came from animals of all things.
Ridiculous considering how they coveted the skill at the same time as they disparaged it.
Claiming she's descended from animals at the same time as they offered to breed her in a hunt for a metamorphmagus' child..
What a thing to hear at eleven from seventeen year olds…
Tonks had… Gotten over that… Eventually. It had given her a thicker skin actually. So… Good? She was totally over it. Didn't hurt anymore…
She snorted again, slowly sitting up, curling her arms around herself. Yeah… Good… Sure… She stared unseeing at the far wall. She loved her ability, she really did. Just as much as she hated it.
It saved her and condemned her, hurt her yet healed her. Just like Tonks, the damn power she had couldn't make up its mind if it was useful - or just pain and suffering pretending to be something else.
The staff had been helpful over the years, stopped most of it before it got too bad, but there was just no way to stop it all, not from the older years, the older Slytherins, the ones who didn't care if they got suspended or not - because they didn't need to graduate.
Especially the pureblood girls…
No matter how attentive you were, something would always slip by if someone was determined enough, and the people that enjoyed hurting Tonks, had been very determined, until they reaped what they sowed.
Then… Not so much.
She'd made some progress on friends at least… For all the good that did. She learned to fight bullies, to stand up for herself. Then… Puberty arrived, complicating things even more. And with it, everything changed, even those who didn't want something - would constantly harass her in small ways, thinking she was using her abilities in weird ways. Tonks thanked Morgana, Maeve, Circe and Merlin, that she was a Hufflepuff.
Any other house would have been unbearable, no matter how much the staff stomped down on it. Even some Puffs eventually got on her case. No matter how hard Oph- no… Never mind. Not going there. Nope. Tonks shook her head rapidly.
But she couldn't get it out of her mind this time, she just snuck in, through her defenses - like she always did, except this time she wasn't here!
She let out a keening noise, they'd bonded in blood! How could she break that!? It felt like part of her was torn out! They'd said forever! They'd sworn a magical oath! “H-how, how c-could she!?” She wailed, before she forcefully shut her lips, wordlessly screaming as fingernails tore at her face.
Don't! Don't! Don't say her name! She raged at herself.
No, no, don't think of her… Tonks' mind turned back to examining what got her here, refusing to think of O...Her. Instead thinking of her own life of failures. Always approaching everything with a positive upbeat attitude like a naive fool, always being beaten back by reality, was it any wonder she now lost everyone?
Even Penny left in the end… Now she's back when I'm leaving, maybe she came back because she knew I'd be leaving so she wouldn't have to be around me too long…
Any real friendships turned out to be people using her, eventually. It was never completely overt in the beginning. Just a chink in her armor, everyday, constantly. Chink, chink, one more piece of her armor plied away, more nasty comments. Hexes from jealous girls, worse from horny boys.
Fuck, even worse from horny girls. Just because she could sprout a cock didn't mean she wanted to on request, or did it to rut with animals as they suggested. The girls hurt more than the boys most days back then. She could ignore the boys, for the most part, sometimes it required some hexes... The girls knew how to stab deep and twist. And no hexes could defend from that.
So many got suspended, some got expelled even, but it didn't remove it from Tonks mind, didn't erase the comments she couldn't forget, even if they were now gone - even if it wasn't happening the same this year - she could never forget it, she repeated it everyday, she wasn't allowed to forget it!
The purebloods especially got bad back then. Half jealous of her powers, half believing she wasn't even human for having them, coming from an outcast and a mudblood as she was…
Then…It had all come to…
Tonks shut her eyes, banging a fist against her head harshly. No, no, no, no! She wouldn't remember that. A flash of green, no, no, no! She let out a sob, so alone. She was never supposed to be alone anymore… And now she was so, so alone.
Broken. So many pieces. She'd cracked. She'd put herself together again, with help. But the cracks still showed. She couldn't be whole. Not again. Not ever. There was no Nymphadora Tonks. Not anymore. Only Tonks. She’s what's left…
That shitty useless part that couldn't handle all the stress, why was she still around?
She'd decided to become an Auror. At least… She'd do something worthwhile. And well… Aurors got to die heroically didn't they?
Probably the best she could hope for, innit?
Her face twisted in sorrow and agony, No matter what… Her mind just kept coming back to… Ophie! Why!?
Dumbledore did something! She swore to herself, those meetings in the summer…
Her heart broke all over again. No… I can't blame Dumbledore… It's me. It's always been me. I ruined it. My fault.
The door suddenly opened, drawing Tonks out of her spiraling depressive introspection, an instinctive morph transforming her into a version of herself that wasn't a mess of snot and tears, as she sat up properly, collecting her wand, quickly aiming a silent scourgify at herself to get rid of any leftover signs of tears and such.
“Lucas?” She asked, seeing the firstie enter, feeling like a breath of fresh air was introduced to the room. Lucas! He was still her friend wasn't he? Tonks still had someone. He hadn't even shied away when some of her cracks had shown.
Well not too much, she could pretend he didn't even notice, really. She was good at pretending most times.
She could… She could pretend to be okay, she did in the summers, it would work out. It had to.
She'd done so well pretending at the beginning of the year. But then she'd been with… Her. Now she was alone.
She wasn't supposed to be alone! Something deep within her cried.
She scrambled to her feet, putting up a confident smirk, “Wotcher, Lucas, whatcha doing sneaking out at this time?” She winked exaggeratedly, “Spying on the hot older girls, huh? Can't say I blame you.”
She still had Lucas… Still had mum and dad.
She… She could still do this.
Not be alone.
Never alone.
A flash of sickly green flashed in her memories again as she stiffened imperceptibly, refusing to show Lucas how weak she was.
Even if she deserved it.
Alone forever and ever and ever!
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ