Chapter 48: A Farewell Gift

"All right, Claire, now cast the Freezing Charm on that dummy over there," Chester said, pointing to the one across from him.

Repeating from memory, Claire made an upward slashing motion with her wand followed by a line and a downward slash while annunciating, "Immobulus!"

This sent a purple spark from her wand which made the dummy stand perfectly still no matter how many times Chester pushed it.

"Please don't tell Madam Hooch about me using this spell during Quidditch matches," Chester insisted. "Or the times when I've used it to trip a Gryffindor or two."

"You're more mischievous than I thought you were," Claire remarked. "But thanks for teaching me this spell."

"There's also a potion that Snape hardly teaches that I think you should know about," Chester stated. "So let's go to the Potions Classroom tonight when Snape's not watching the place."

###

As Chester predicted, Snape was nowhere to be found as Claire brought her potion supplies into the room.

"So Claire, the potion I'm going to show you how to brew is called the Babbling Beverage," Chester explained. "What do you think it does?"

"Um, it makes you babble after drinking it," Claire guessed.

"With a mind that sharp, you'll be Head Girl in no time," Chester joked, though he also sounded serious. "Drinking the Babbling Beverage makes you talk uncontrollable nonsense. So, how would you use it?"

"Probably to make my enemies look like fools," Claire determined.

Chester laughed. "Now who's the mischievous one? Here's how it's done."

Using the Book of Potions as a guide, Chester told Claire which ingredients to get and how to properly brew them. After Claire gathered most of them from the shelves in the room, she proceeded to stir them into her cauldron which she pre-heated upon arrival. Once the potion was done, Chester's face lit up when he looked at the result.

"Well, done!" Chester exclaimed. "Even Snape would be impressed."

"If he ever shows any emotion," Claire said, rolling her eyes. "So now what?"

"Taste the potion," Chester encouraged. "Just to see if it works."

Hesitating, Claire poured some of the potion into a phial and took a sip.

"What do you think?" Chester asked.

"I think it tastes verLAPPA DAPPA YAPPA JABBA!"

While Chester laughed, Claire covered her mouth in embarrassment.

"After the potion's worn off, meet me in Greenhouse Three before your Herbology class starts," Chester instructed. "There's a plant there that I want to show you."

###

The next morning, Chester showed Claire a plant near the back of the greenhouse that resembled an ordinary stump that seemed to be covered in thorny vines. But as the two got closer, the vines shot up revealing green pods along the base which appeared to be pulsating.

"What on earth is that?" Claire said, stepping back while Chester did the same.

"A Snargaluff," Chester replied as the vines covered the stump once more. "It's a particularly violent plant that's known for the green pods it produces which can apparently be used as weapons. Sixth-Years are usually taught how to extract them, but I think you can handle it."

"Sounds brilliant to me," Claire murmured.

"But it's an amazing plant, Claire," Chester claimed. "Though it requires quite a bit of thinking to keep under control, and is therefore the perfect plant for a Ravenclaw."

So reluctantly, Claire stepped closer to the plant which raised its vines once more. As they attacked Claire, who managed to successfully dodge them, Chester knelt down and pried some of the green pods off with a plier-looking tool. Once Chester had finished, he stepped back as Claire did as well.

"Why didn't you tell me what you were going to do beforehand?" Claire demanded. "Those Snargaluff vines almost got me!"

"But at least you survived," Chester pointed out. "Now it's my turn to distract the Snargaluff while you collect the pods using these."

Handing the plier-like tool to Claire, Chester stepped forward and dealt with the vines while Claire quickly got on her knees and crawled forward. When she was close enough to the pods, she used the pliers to pick the pods off the base of the stump. It was a bit hard at first, but it gradually got easier.

"You did well," Chester commented as he and Claire left the Snargaluff with a full basket of green pods. "I'm impressed with how quickly you collected those pods, though. Even the amount I collected seems paltry by comparison."

"So why did you teach me these things, apart from the fact that they might be useful?" Claire inquired, putting the basket on the table.

In response, Chester smiled. "Meet me in the Common Room after your classes are done. I have one last surprise waiting for you."

###

As promised, Claire met Chester in the Ravenclaw Common Room where he seemed rather pleased with himself.

"Now, based on the lessons I've taught over the past two days, what do you think I want you to do with them?" Chester posed.

"To…set an example for other students who get sorted into our house," Claire answered.

"Exactly!" Chester nodded. "So, I'll award Ravenclaw twenty-five House Points for all your hard work. And, I will put in a good word to Dumbledore and Flitwick telling them that you'll make an excellent Prefect."

"I…don't know what to say," Claire stammered, feeling tears of joy well up in her eyes. "But, thank you, Chester."

"Good luck on the rest of your journey at Hogwarts," Chester replied. "Hopefully, we'll meet again years from now."

###

"Hey, Claire Krystal," Tulip said as Claire arrived in Jacob's room the next day. "Did you manage to persuade Barnaby Lee to our side?"

"He made me beat him in a duel," Claire admitted. "But he'll help us when the time comes."

"That's good," replied Tulip. "Because at this rate, we're going to need all the help we can get. First, we need to lure Madam Pince out of the library. Then, find the vault in the Restricted Section and make sure Merula doesn't interfere in all this."

"Not to mention we still have to face whatever's inside the vault," added Claire.

"Hopefully, Barnaby will be able to take care of Merula," Tulip figured. "By the way, how is your relationship with Madam Pince?"

"Based on the time she gave me ten points for Ravenclaw, I'd say she likes me. Sort of."

"Then someone needs to create a diversion to lure her away. Who do you think should do that?"

"Definitely Rowan," Claire suggested. "She's already got a bad reputation with Pince for being too noisy, so it shouldn't be too difficult for her to distract Pince long enough to make our move. Meanwhile, the others can stand guard and warn us about any incoming professors that might try to interfere."

"Sounds like a perfect plan to me," Tulip concurred. "Be prepared to enter the next vault, while I make the final preparations for it."

To be continued…