Times of Change
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Originally, this was going to be longer, and the history lesson was just going to be like an intro scene before the chapter's bigger events. But then this scene sort of... grew into its own chapter. Chapter Fourteen will come soon. :D As always, I love it when y'all read and review :)
Chapter Thirteen A History Lesson
History of Magic had always been described by past students as dull and uninteresting, the subject as dead as the ghost that taught it. Everyone would fall asleep, except for the determined few who would take notes. Today however, instead of having to put up with and struggle to listen to him talking of some goblin rebellion or another, Professor Binns's class was intruded upon by two other ghosts. The Ravenclaw ghost and the Slytherin ghost.
"I heard you talking about me!"
"So what if I was?"
"You are an insensitive, blood-crazed cloud!"
"I was just talking to Nick about women!"
"Why did you include me?"
"Baron! Grey Lady! What are you doing in my office?" Professor Binns for once showed more emotion than the usual flatness. Scorpius found himself surprised by the change.
"Just shut it, Binns. I don't even see why you still teach."
"I beg your pardon-" Binns glared at the Bloody Baron.
The Baron drew his sword, pointing it at the professor. "No student likes you and you know it! Almost every child falls asleep while you speak, droning on and on in such a dead voice. With the way you talk, I doubt any of these children will be able to stay awake even if you told them about the Second War! Hearing it from any other teacher, or anyone else for that matter, they're most likely to listen eagerly. But from you, you'd send them all to dreamland!"
The Second War? Even if, by some miracle, Binns would lecture them on that event and do it excitingly, Scorpius had no wish to listen. It involved most of their parents, grandparents, or relatives in general. It would be no problem for them, they'd hear about the heroic deeds of their family. But him? Him and perhaps a good number of Slytherins would only hear of the bad deeds of their family. Already, he could imagine the accusations that would fly at him based on facts gathered from this subject.
"The Second War? There are not yet enough books for that event in history! Until there are, it shall only be mentioned in passing to every first-"
"Don't you know what my mother would say?" the Grey Lady spoke this time. "Rowena Ravenclaw would say 'wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.'"
"By wit, you mean intelligence-"
"Which will not always come from books." The Grey Lady was speaking with such conviction, Professor Binns didn't immediately contradict her. "Not everything will be learned from books, Professor Binns. There are some lessons that cannot be taken in unless life experiences become the teachers." A sorrowful tone colored her voice. Scorpius was fascinated. She just seemed so… human, the way she was troubled. It wasn't like the forever angry, freaky Bloody Baron, or the weird Nearly Headless Nick, Fat Friar, Headless Ghosts, or that bathroom-haunting ghost Myrla or whatever her name was.
"That's right, that's right! You make me proud, Helena! Do you know that?" The Bloody Baron was floating over to the Grey Lady, arms open wide, to hug her. Scorpius was curious to see if ghosts could touch each other or went through each other the way they went through living people.
The Lady put up one palm, signaling him to stop. "Don't touch me."
Scorpius glanced around. The ghosts had everyone's attention. He couldn't blame his classmates. This was the most exciting thing that ever happened in this classroom. Be that as it may, he dreaded the moment they would decide to give an account of the Second War.
His position at the back of the classroom was probably an advantage though. It would be harder for people to call out stupid ideas or stare or glare. Beside him, Al said, "I hope they teach us from now on. Baron actually keeps people awake!"
Scorpius smiled, nodding. Sure, Albus Potter wouldn't be bothered by any history lesson. What clean, glorious, courageous Potter ever did wrong? Pfah! They had all the luck.
Baron was grumbling irritably while Binns was glaring around. Lady took it upon herself to speak to them. "How many of you would like us to teach you about the Second War?"
"But-but it's not part of the exam I have prepared for first years- for years!"
"You can always change it, you ugly old-"
"Enough."
"He started it."
The Grey Lady glared at the Bloody Baron before turning away from him to see how many students had their hands raised.
Scorpius nearly groaned despairingly. Every Gryffindor had a hand raised, Al had a hand raised, Mars too, even the twins, plus one of the Slytherin girls. "Just my luck."
"What was that?" Albus heard him.
"Nothing!" he snapped. Maybe, Scorpius thought he'd regret his rudeness later. But at the moment, he couldn't care less. They were going to narrate, and in an incredibly interesting way, no doubt, the event that brought the downfall of his proud family's name. Just because the crazy, reckless Gryffindors were so eager to hear about more crazy, recklessly brave people, it didn't mean he would feel the same way and act just as eagerly. No.
"Fine then!" As angry as he was at having his class's lesson plan changed, Binns was determined not to let Bloody Baron and Grey Lady take over the subject entirely. Gliding to a position in front of them, he faced the class. "Thirty five years ago," Binns spoke in the usual dull tone, ignoring the class's protests. "A dark wizard tried to kill an innocent boy, the curse rebounded on the wizard. Eleven years-"
"Binns!" Baron barked, drawing his sword again. "You are boring!" Ignoring the teacher's protests, Baron addressed the class. "The boy was called…" a dramatic pause. "Harry Potter!"
The Gryffindor side whooped and cheered. Albus was grinning, obviously proud of his father.
"Harry Potter was decent as a boy-"
"Helena, dear, let's make it more exciting!" Baron interrupted, "Since the very start of his school years, Potter had a school rival…" another pause for dramatic effect. "Draco Malfoy!"
Scorpius shrank low in his seat when a number of Gryffindors hissed words at him. Mars went far enough to say, "Malfoy, when're you planning to pick fights with your Potter mate?"
"Now, now," the Grey Lady swooped around the classroom. "This is a history lesson. Behave yourselves!"
Scorpius wished they would just go directly to the final battle, the one at Hogwarts, instead of giving this prologue. It was pretty much common knowledge how it all started between Voldemort and Potter
"Harry Potter kept Voldemort, that is, the dark wizard, from obtaining the Sorcerer's Stone, also known as the Philosopher's Stone. The stone was later destroyed.''
"Binns, be quiet and let me do it!"
"Why don't you both be quiet?" the two male ghosts fell silent. "Harry Potter faced Voldemort again after that. It was during a Triwizard Tournament that he and another boy were sent to him. The boy, Cedric Diggory, was murdered."
The Weasley girl had her hand in the air. With a raised eyebrow, the Grey Lady pointed at her. "That was the time when Voldemort regained his body! Then after that, they had a duel, where Harry Potter won, and then he brought Cedric's body back. After that, Uncle Harry had to face Voldemort again in the Ministry of Magic, and then-"
"Shut up, Weasley, you're not the teacher here!"
"Who asked for your opinion, Malfoy?" she retorted.
"Sit down! I will not tolerate fighting in my class!"
"What if I fought you, Binns? Would you tolerate that?" Before Binns could respond, Baron was talking again, "The Battle in the Ministry of Magic is when things really began! In that battle, Harry Potter faced Voldemort and his Death Eaters, his followers, once again. He was accompanied by a number of students in his personal army, as well as members of the Order of the Phoenix." Baron stopped.
"Come to think of it… they were all Gryffindors… and one Ravenclaw." Pointing his sword at the left side of the classroom, Baron said, "At least one of you Slytherins had better do something great! Don't let the reckless Gryffindors get all the glory!"
"Baron! You are being incredibly biased!"
The Bloody Baron ignored him. "In that Ministry battle, Voldemort was defeated by Albus Dumbledore."
"Lucius Malfoy was among the Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic that time. When he failed to please Voldemort," Scorpius first stared at Rose in disbelief, then he glared at her, gritting his teeth and debating with himself regarding whether he should yell at her or hex her. Rose threw Scorpius a challenging glance. "Draco Malfoy, Lucius's son was made a Death Eater."
Scorpius stared at her. How could she know all that? He had suspected it, but he wasn't sure, his father would never talk about it openly, simply saying that his sixth and seventh years of school were his darkest times.
"What is your name?" Binns spoke.
"Rose Weasley." Rose spoke with pride.
"You're always taking notes in my class, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir." more pride.
"You have your first favourite student. Congratulations, Binns." Baron said sarcastically.
The Grey Lady was scolding them, but this time, they began arguing with her too.
Scorpius was thankful when the bell finally signaled the end of classes. He would write a letter to his father, that was for sure. It was infuriating how Rose could know more about his family than he did. Or was she lying? Was her father telling her things again? The need to know the truth was consuming Scorpius.
"Scorpius?" Albus sounded worried.
"What?"
"Scorpy, mate! You alright?"
"You look like you ate a bunch of pixie eggs!"
Scorpius ignored the three and headed straight for Rose. Just as she was standing up and shouldering her bag, he made sure to slam his shoulder against hers as hard as he could. "Why you skinny git!" she slapped his shoulder.
Growling, Scorpius spun around and raised a fist to punch her, but before he could, the Bloody Baron called out his name. "Malfoy! What are you doing?"
"Take five points from Slytherin, Binns." The Grey Lady said. "Men and boys should understand how stupid and unnecessary it is to strike out in anger, especially at a girl." At this, her glare went from Scorpius to the Bloody Baron. Baron mutttered something they couldn't hear, a frown on his face.
"What? But she-" Scorpius's temper rose further. She started it!
"Me?" Binns stared at the Grey Lady.
"Well you're a teacher, aren't you?"
"Five points from Slytherin then."
"But-" Scorpius gave up trying to explain. "Fine!" Fuming, he didn't speak to Al, Theo or Tom, ignoring them. Finally they gave up trying to persuade him to talk and instead had their conversations among themselves, only once in a while consulting his opinion. When that happened, he'd make an uninterested grunt.
Father,
Is it true you were a Death Eater when grandfather failed Voldemort? I need to know what happened.
-Scorpius
There. Concise. Straight to the point. He needed to know. All he ever got was the side of people like Rose or the Death Eater families. What he wanted was his father's side. Scorpius hoped he'd get his real answer and explanation, not the evasive answers he usually got.