I promised a longer chapter, and here you go!
13th February, 2009
Classroom 2E, Third Floor, Training Grounds Tower
The Charms classroom was littered with fragments of rock, and the loud echoes of cracking ricocheted down the corridors. The students sat in pairs: one would cast the gouging charm non-verbally, while the other would cast the mending charm.
Seth had been partnered up with Levi Moore, the dark-skinned, dark-haired and dark-eyed Slytherin boy – the only muggle-born Seth knew of in the house. What's more, Seth found Levi was a competent partner. His wandwork was textbook, and Seth never felt as though his learning was being hindered.
"And, now, if we could swap," Professor Flitwick instructed. "So, if you are on the left, you shall cast the gouging charm, and if you are on the right, you cast the mending charm."
Seth watched as Levi took a moment and then flicked his wand, cracking part of the stone. Seth waved his wand while thinking 'reparo' in his head and the cracked pieces of stone began to meld back together. Not as strong as before, but still one single stone.
"You're good at this," Seth murmured as he watched Levi crack the stone again.
"Charms has always been my thing," Levi said, watching Seth repair the stone. "Like, remember when June Okoro's hair was green and silver for a day last year?"
Seth raised an eyebrow. "You?" Levi nodded, smiling to himself. "As I remember, it wasn't just June."
"I had to practice," Levi explained. "Besides, it was nothing that couldn't be undone. And what with all the jinxing and hexing their Quidditch team does on the house…" Levi said, glancing over to Dorian and Jamie, who were sat a few rows back, taking it in turn to carve rude words on their stone.
Myles Evans was working with Roman Blodwell. Roman seemed to have some sort of… inherent rage. Myles could understand that – there was no shortage to call upon. But ever since last year, that rage never felt right to call upon. It was a tremendous motivator – it gave him the energy to slam his bat into a bludger every quidditch, match and practice. However, since he'd played his role in scarring Sanjay Kapur… he always felt a pang of guilt – though he'd never admit it to the other Slytherins – especially Rupert Selwyn. Roman, though… Roman wasn't as bad as the loudmouthed Gryffindors made him out to be. But, sadly, Roman wasn't the sort to ignore slights.
The half-breed Adler was snickering in the corner, glancing over to Roman every now and then. And, if that wasn't bad enough, Adler was with Jamie Helstrom. His mother's nephew. A blood-traitor, one who'd had everything Myles had been deprived of, and was arrogant enough to turn his back on it all.
Dorian hissed at Alessia Smythe (who was watching Emelien Chevalier carve his own name with elegant handwriting). She glanced over her shoulder and he spun around to show her the stone slab. Alessia supressed a smile and shook her head. However, as Emelien looked over his shoulder, he saw the stone and turned to look at Roman Blodwell, and gave a loud chortle.
Myles saw this, and what's more, he saw that Roman had as well. Roman's jaw clenched and his hand shot up. "Sir, how do you spell 'traitor'?"
"What, have trouble with more than one syllable?" Jamie Helstrom called across the classroom. Dorian Adler, Cormac O'Hare, Valerie Townsend and Emelien Chevalier gave a loud guffaw of laughter.
"What about 'half-breed'?" Rupert Selwyn asked from beside Roman.
Dorian's head cocked to the side as he rose to his feet, brandishing his wand. "Now, why would you go and say that?"
"Ads, stop it," Alessia said, turning around and laying a hand on his desk.
"Listen to your mudblood girlfriend," Roman said.
"She's not his-" Seth began.
"Now, now, students-" Professor Flitwick chirped from the top of his pile of books.
"Why don't you shut your mouth before we do it for you?" Jamie stood up beside Dorian, wand-in-hand.
"Don't talk to him like that," Myles tried to move as much of his shoulder in front of Roman.
"What is it with these three?" Dorian asked, leaning on Jamie. "I mean, what do you reckon, how long until one of them ends up in Azkaban?"
"Maybe Rupert can share a cell with daddy," Cormac chortled.
Rupert pointed his wand at Cormac and a streak of blue light flashed across the classroom before exploding with a sharp snap and bang in the centre of the classroom. Dorian, Cormac and Jay stood there, wands pointed up at the ceiling. One the other side, Rupert, Roman and Myles mirrored them. As all of them tried to move their mouths, their voices were gone.
Myles turned to see Professor Flitwick's wand pointed upward, glaring at each of the students. "Goodness…" he muttered before waving his wand once again, and all six of the boys fell back into their seats. "If it's not after hours, it's in the classroom!" He stormed down his staircase of books and began to pace between the benches, hands clasped behind his back.
"Gryffindor and Slytherin…" Professor Flitwick said slowly, "have always shared a rivalry. But you can always form friendships from that. Push each other to achieve great things! Your parents, for example!" Flitwick faced Jamie. "Helstrom, if it's not enough to ask you to act as a Prefect, perhaps you can refrain from instigating fights with your own family?" Jamie just glared at Myles. "Though your two founders had their issues, they worked together. Merlin's beard, they were friends!"
"Before they duelled," Dorian said quietly.
"Be that as it may," Professor Flitwick growled – something that sounded very strange, "the advantage of living in the modern day is learning from the mistakes of those who came before us." Flitwick sighed and shook his head. "It's high time this childish feud is put to an end, or none of you are welcome in my class. Here, at Hogwarts, we are all the same."
"Except his father was a bl-" Rupert began.
"Oh, and where's yours? Rotting in Azkaban," Dorian snapped. "He's just sore because my uncle outdid precious daddy."
"And that makes you better than me?" Rupert asked.
"No, just everything else does,"
"Dorian just stop…" Seth said quietly.
"He started it!"
"And Adler – it seems like every time there's duelling, you're at the heart of it." Dorian response was a proud, self-satisfied shrug of affirmation. "Need I remind you how many points you have cost your house? You are representing your house – and your family."
"Is that why you're called Adler?" Rupert asked. "Because that blood mixing addled your brain?"
Dorian gave a theatrical gasp and pointed at Rupert. "And that's why you're called Selwyn? Because you're actually a massive cu-"
"One more word from either of you," Flitwick said, raising his wand again, "and you will not be welcome in my classroom." He looked between all six of the boys. "Clearly traditional points-docking has not disciplined you. I hope I've done right, talking to you as mature N.E.W.T students. If that's not the case, you can explain to Headmistress McGonagall why you have failed my class before we have even spoken of your exams."
Great Hall, Ground Floor
Seth was sat with Alessia and Faith. They'd not spoken about the outburst in class earlier – the fact was that Seth didn't know if Alessia would like his opinion on it. Flitwick was absolutely right – it was stupid how intense the rivalry was. Hell, he knew that Dorian and Rupert had loathed one another from the moment they saw each other. They knew the reputation of their families, and disliked each other purely on principle. The personal reasons were bred from their already established hatred. As for Roman Blodwell… well, Dorian always liked to make fun of most people. Roman reacted… that was probably why he kept doing it. To be fair, Roman didn't help himself – his views were outdated. Even if someone was misled enough to believe in blood purity, he thought that sort of fanatical, maniac belief would have petered out into a quieter, less vindictive prejudice.
Needless to say, Seth's greatest skill was remaining objective and unbiased. He could always see clearly. Alessia, and her penchant for breaking noses… less so.
Alessia was the one to snap Seth out of his quiet contemplations. "Seth, tell her she's being stupid."
Seth looked at Faith and blinked. "Why are you- are you being stupid?"
Faith rolled her eyes and shook her head, going back to eating her sandwich while Alessia picked up the roll of parchment and showed it to Seth. There was a picture of Faith smiling, with a moustache drawing itself across her face, glasses and horns popping out and some writing scrawled across the portrait.
"I've got squealer fever?" Seth read aloud, raising an eyebrow.
"Clearly rhyming isn't their forte…" Faith said.
"Where did you find this?" Seth asked.
Faith glanced over to the doors that opened to the Great Hall, where another pair of the posters were pasted. Seth's jaw clenched and he gripped his fork tightly. "Faith, we need to tell McGonagall."
"Seth, I said no," Faith said firmly. "Look, I can handle this. I'm a Prefect, Quidditch Captain and I'm doing my O.W.L's – this is just some stupid kid stuff…"
"What if it gets worse."
"It won't get-"
"Alright so…" They were interrupted by Dorian, who sat down between Alessia and Faith. "Fern's- nice horns, Faithy," Dorian glanced at the poster for a second and then back to the others. Seth let out a long, angry sigh. "Fern's office. I reckon I've got us our opening."
"No, Ads, I don't have Felix anymore," Alessia said, "Kenton took it, remember? We need to get it back before-"
"Yeah, we're not going to have time for that," Dorian cleared his throat.
"Why?" Faith asked, a bemused smile on her face.
"What've you done?" Alessia asked, slightly worried.
"Nothing," Dorian said innocently. A beat of silence later, screams and shrieks echoed down the corridors. Seth glanced to Dorian who was grinning slightly. They followed the throngs of students to the Great Staircase and made their way to the stone banister to look down at a lake of sparkling scarlet water flood from the dungeons and up towards the first floor. Several students were swimming up, and the older ones were managing to shoot upward, wands directing them out of the water.
"How on Earth…" Seth murmured, frowning. The spellwork that was needed – the sheer energy and skill it would take for a single spellcaster…
"I have the best friends…" Dorian giggled to himself.
"Oh, Merlin's…"
They turned around to see Professor Kenton dashing past them, followed by Professors Fern, Vector and Frigozi. Alessia's round hazel eyes followed Kenton, then up to the third floor of the staircase. It was a moment of opportunity. An opportunity for more luck.
"I'm getting Felix," Alessia said as she sprinted up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
"What- Ales!" Dorian called after her.
"I'll get her!" Faith told them before taking off after her.
"I guess we're going to Fern's…" Seth said quietly to Dorian.
"Because of course it does…" Dorian groaned, and the two of them ran off to the first floor.
Professor Fern's Office, First Floor, Defence Against the Dark Arts Tower
The door creaked open as Dorian and Seth creeped inside, making their way towards the desk. The classroom was scarce, though there were some knick-knacks across the place: photographs of people by the Pyramids of Giza, a miniature Sphinx in a glass case and next to stacks of leather-bound tomes with archaic spellings down the spines, a flask of a purple potion. Seth walked over and cautiously opened the flask, sniffing some. He felt his eyelids grow heavy and, thankfully, had the wherewithal to close the flask and take a step back.
"Dreamless sleep," Seth stated. Strange – why would Fern need dreamless sleep? Dorian, meanwhile, was dawdling over to a small basin of shimmering water that reflected light. "I wouldn't suggest that," Seth said to him. "You don't-"
"It's a pensieve," Dorian cut him off with a look.
"Let me guess, uncle George?"
"No, dad," Dorian said as he walked away to the desk and began to rifle through anything he could find – leaving traces that they were there. "Dorian, stop, I've got it from here…"
"No, no, no, no, not after your cock-up in Diagon Alley…"
"It wasn't a… that."
Dorian shook his head and chuckled to himself. "I'm impressed Sethany – breaking rules, and not even one panic attack."
"Not the time or place, Dorian."
"Just saying… a prefect, breaking rules…"
"At least I don't go around starting fights," Seth felt the reply rush out between his teeth.
"Oh, what, and I do?" Dorian stood up to face him and pulled on another handle, which rattled, but remained shut.
"Oh, shut up…" Seth shook his head and turned back to the open door. He saw Dorian's hand flash by him. In a heartbeat and a flinch, Seth had fully drawn his wand and his eyes were back on Dorian.
"Oh, for- will you chill out?" Dorian rolled his eyes and continued to draw on his wand from within his robes. He pointed the tip at the drawer. "Jeez… alohamora." He pulled on the drawer again, which remained firmly locked. "Alohamora." Dorian said, louder. "Alohamora-"
"Let me try," Seth pointed his wand at the drawer.
"I just tried-"
"Will you just…" Seth held up a hand and then looked at the drawer. "Alohamora," he said quietly and clearly. There was a glow of light from within the drawer and Seth slid it open with ease.
"Oh… whatever…" Dorian muttered, and they both peered inside to see…
Newspapers. Dorian picked up the large broadsheet copy of the Daily Prophet, scanning his eyes over it while Seth was busy examining all the cut-out scraps from every newspaper but the Prophet.
"What sort of freak locks up their newspapers?" Dorian asked.
There were headlines from the murder at Gringott's, the following break-in, the missing Aurora Tremblay… Maybe these were keepsakes or tophies? Maybe Fern was involved with whatever was in the articles, and keeping them was some sort of… narcissistic habit? A way to relive her involvement? Though that would indicate some personal pleasure… nothing Seth had come across seemed to indicate that.
"There's something missing here…" Seth muttered. "Something I'm missing."
"She could just be a freaky teacher- I mean, we do have a ghost teaching history. But, then again, who better-"
"Shh…" Seth held up a finger as he looked at the cut-out articles and looking at all the pictures. He didn't understand all of it – he didn't speak what he recognized to be French. He looked at the potions on Fern's desk, the piles of texts written in Latin and French… "You know what this is?"
"It's an office mate, there's a lot of them, we're in a school…"
"She's involved with this, right?" Seth glanced back to the clippings. "I mean, she took the sword, has clippings of Gringott's and the fires in France – even the fire on Orkney – all in a locked drawer, so she's got to know something about them, yes?"
"Okay…"
"And here she has some strange old books as well as a pensieve…" Seth raised his eyebrows, waiting for Dorian to realize. But Dorian just blinked at him. "Okay, let me… we have stuff that tells us about what she's already done here, yeah?"
"Uh-huh…"
"So, there might also be some clues that tell us what she's planning to do."
"We know what she's planning to do. Get the other relics."
"See?" Seth opened the books and scanned his eyes across the reading, hoping to understand some of it. "I told you she was involved…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you owe me an 'I told you so'…" Dorian said as he checked another drawer with a smile. "Hey, Fern's dealing with the flooding down in the dungeons, right?"
"Last we saw…"
"How's she going to do that without a wand?" Dorian asked, producing a dulled yew wand with piece of crystal fit into the end, showing a series of vivid green scales protruding out of the tip.
"That's… strange," Seth nodded before looking back to the clippings. "Why newspapers? Why not… keep a journal? Or at least annotate…" He looked back over to the pensieve. He didn't want to tempt fate – they couldn't have enough time…
As if to prove his point, they heard the door open down the corridor. Seth and Dorian looked at each other before throwing everything back into the drawer. Well… Dorian threw everything back into the drawer – Seth hissed at him to stop and tried to replace everything exactly as they had found it.
"What are you doing?" Dorian hissed.
"If we don't, she'll know someone was in-"
"She's going to know anyway in a…" Dorian was cut off as another door opened and closed – closer this time.
Seth shut the drawer and pointed his wand at it. "Colloportus."
Dorian grabbed Seth by the scruff of his robes and pushed him beside the door. "Hide here," he said, stowing his wand in his robes.
"What?"
"She'll recognize you," Dorian said, his words barely audible, "I'm just-"
The door swung open and Professor Fern stood there, lithe and tall, with one hand already wrapped around the handle of her wand. She looked Dorian up and down for a moment. "Adler. Breaking into my office, are you?"
"Wha- no, Miss, the door was open. I was just looking for you-"
"Why?" Fern asked. Seth could hear the suspicion in her voice, but he didn't dare peek out from behind the door. "Not planning on flooding my office too, are you?" Fern asked, her boots clicking against the stone slabs on the floor. Seth watched her slowly walk past Dorian, towards her desk. Dorian waved a hand to the door and Seth, grabbing his robes tight to his body, ducked around the doorway and slowly snuck out of the office.
"You're not my sole suspect," Fern said as she pulled off her long coat and hung it upon the wall beside her fireplace. "I believe Messers O'Hare and Helstrom are involved, no doubt. Or, perhaps, Tarsem Kapur? He has a certain talent for mischief, so I hear."
"Absolutely him – I think you should dock points off of him right away. Maybe even take him off the quidditch team." Dorian nodded eagerly.
Fern pulled out her chair and sat down, looking at Dorian and holding out her hands. "Well? Why are you here?"
"I'm here because…" Dorian looked down at his feet and cleared his throat. "I'm… having issues… with my wand."
"Your wand?"
"Well, it doesn't cast right. Or… it doesn't listen to me…" Dorian licked his lips. "I can't cast the Patronus charm."
"I see…" Professor Fern nodded. "Well, I suggest you seek out Professor Kenton for that."
"Yeah, I doubt he cares whether or not I pass his class."
Fern took a moment before giving a slight smile. "Yes, I suppose that's a fair point… but I teach transfiguration, not defence against the dark arts. If you wanted help transfiguring flobberworms into fritters, I might be able to assist you, but-"
"If it's a… money thing, I can pay," Dorian said. "I just need to figure out why my wand-"
"I'd suggest a trip to Ollivander's," Fern said, standing up from her chair, "maybe stop by on your next trip to Hogsmeade."
Library Corridor, First Floor, Training Grounds Tower
Faith was exiting the library with an armful of books, including one of the books from the Invisibility Section (she was clamping her thumb around it, as the book was appropriately invisible), which she hoped Seth could help her figure out how to read…
She suddenly flung forwards, landing on her side. She turned back to see her shoe had stuck to the floor, her foot sliding out of it. Looking up down the corridor, she found some giggling boys. She didn't recognize these ones. Instead, she stood up and pulled at her shoe, finding that it wouldn't budge. She drew her wand and closed her eyes, trying to stop herself from getting upset.
"Finite incantatum," Faith said, pointing her wand at her shoe. Thankfully, it moved easily off the floor and back onto her foot. However, Faith pocketed her wand, she turned around to realize that finding the invisible book was a lot harder now…
Because of this, it was late when Faith was back in the main building and just more than halfway to her dorm. As she walked past the Great Hall, a trio of girls from the year above (she recognized them as the Medusas) chortled at her as they passed. Faith turned to see another poster of her, this time, with buck teeth and a tail.
A boy passed her on his way to the Great Staircase, glancing suspiciously at her. "You know I don't actively get people into trouble, right?" Faith called after him. She let out a load groan in frustration.
When she looked back up, Dorian was leaning beside the poster, hands clasped behind his back as he examined the poster with her. "Nice nickname," he said.
"Gee, thanks."
"You've got quite the fanclub. Seriously, do a 'down with muggle-borns' rally – really kick it up a notch."
"This is insane…" Faith said to herself, examining all the graffiti on the poster – all the claims of Faith's 'squealer' activity.
"No, deducting ten points because Kieran Carterall supports the Kenmare Kestrels – that's insane."
"Bye," Faith said sternly.
"C'mon…" Dorian guffawed and pointed at the poster, "how can't you laugh at that?"
"Because it's me," Faith explained. "Having everyone ignore me and bump into me and hex me because they think I want to get everyone into trouble isn't funny. I mean, look, 'Squealer docked five points off me because I dropped my quill'?"
"Should've had a tighter grip," Dorian shrugged.
"Who even comes up with a stupid rumour like that?"
"Stupid people?"
Faith sighed and held her books tighter to her chest (she'd tied her canary-yellow tie around the invisible text) and turned to face Dorian, giving a slight smile. "Thanks for trying to cheer me up," she said before walking towards the Great Staircase.
"Don't waste too much time fretting about this," Dorian called after her, "I mean… it's not like these posters are going to be up for much longer, anyway…"
Faith frowned, her brow furrowed. "Why's that?"
Dorian pocketed his hands and shrugged, giving an amused smile. "Just a feeling I've got."
"What've you done?"
"Why would I tell you?" Dorian asked, crossing his arms.
"I'll show you Seth's journal."
Dorian's dark eyes glimmered for a moment as he gave a smile of childlike excitement and wonder. He walked over to Faith and grinned. "I'm listening…"
"What are you up to?"
"Let's just say anyone who puts up another poster in the castle is in for a bit of a shock."
"What kind of a shock?"
Dorian just grinned. "So, his diary?"
"It's a journal, not a diary."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…"
"He does it to organise his thoughts. He's probably just writing about our… investigation."
Dorian scowled. "I'm not interested in that."
"I'm sure he's written about something you'll be interested in."
"Like?"
"Like… can I tell you when I'm not tired?"
Dorian thought it over for a moment. "Did you just trick me?"
"No – I don't trick people, I'm an honest person, aren't I?"
"I don't know," Dorian shrugged, "it's not like we chat."
"Well, don't I seem honest?" Faith asked. She stood there, staring back at him, watching him slowly make up his mind. It was quite refreshing – someone not treating her like the goody-two-shoes everyone seemed to think she was.
"Maybe…" Dorian said finally. "You owe me a look at Seth's diary."
"It's not a diary, it's a…" Faith began, but Dorian had already made his way towards Jamie Helstrom, who pulled back one of the tapestries and ushered him up the staircase.
So, that's the chapter for today. If you guys could let me know (via DM, review or discord) if I'm striking that balance of main story v. fun teenage filler (i.e. dating, quidditch, class, etc).
Anyway, the next chapter shall be entitled 'Valentine's á la Hogwarts', so you can guess what'll be the focus. And I'll try my best to focus on characters we don't usually see as much.
See you next time,
R.