As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots.
The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry would be playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won with enough points, they would move up into second place in the house championship.
Hardly anyone had seen Harry play because Wood had decided that, as their secret weapon, Harry should be kept, well, secret. But the news that he was playing Seeker had leaked out somehow, and it started getting annoying to all who were around Harry as people telling him he'd be brilliant or people telling him they'd be running around underneath him holding a mattress constantly.
It was really lucky that Harry now had Hermione as a friend. He didn't know how he'd have gotten through all his homework without her, what with all the last-minute Quidditch practice Wood was making them do. She had also lent him Quidditch Through the Ages, which turned out to be a very interesting read from what Harry told him.
Apparently, there had also been trouble with the three and Snape recently as Ron had told him Snape had taken the book and deducted five points from Gryffindor. Harry was currently out as Zerif tried to relax after having come back to the common room from extra charm classes and Ron had gotten up the nerve to ask if he could see his wand arm.
Zarif takes a look around the almost empty room before sighing and pulling his sleeve up to show him the bruises. "Never pretty."
Ron was a bit horrified at seeing this while Hermione looked over the three boy's charms homework until Harry ran in and quickly told them of him seeing Snape's leg had been bloody and looked mangled. "You know what this means?" he finished breathlessly. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going when we saw him and he's after whatever it's guarding! And I'd bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!"
"Three-headed dog?" Zarif asks confused.
"Oh, right. You weren't there when we tried to answer Draco's challenge to a duel," Ron says before they filled him in about the dog and that it was guarding something on the fifth floor which was currently forbidden.
"No, he wouldn't. I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe," Hermione says.
"Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something, I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?" Ron agrees.
"I am going to have to side with Hermione on this one. I don't think Snape planned it…" Zarif says before thinking. 'But who d…the only one missing when that happened was the ghosts and Querill.'
"Oh, come off it Zarif. Who else would it be?" Ron asks.
"Professor Quirrell?" Zarif asks.
"Eh…no way he could have done it. He fainted from fright of it," Ron says.
"Why do you think him?" Hermione asks.
"Because he wasn't in the Great Hall either when it happened. The only one besides you and the ghosts," Zarif says simply.
"That…makes sense," Hermione says thinking about it.
"Oh, come off it. Both of you. It's obviously Snape," Ron says.
'Ron is too much of a kid to see it over Snape, a teacher he disliked,' Zarif thinks before letting it rest and the four soon headed to bed.
The next morning dawned very brightly and cold. The Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match. Everyone was excited, but Zarif was more concerned over studying this new spell in a book he had gotten from the library and his breakfast. Which was something both Hermione and Ron were trying to get Harry to eat.
Zarif flips a page and then back as he looks over the words and symbols. "Come on Harry. You have to eat. It's almost time for your match," Hermione says concerned.
"I don't want anything," Harry says not feeling good.
"You're going to have to eat. Otherwise, you won't feel good in the game," Zarif warns.
"Won't help. Slytherin still going to win," Merula informs as she walks by.
"You should be at your table," Zarif mutters.
"Nothing says I can't come over to see you," Merula says grabbing the book and looks at what he is studying.
"Give it back," Zarif sighs.
"The Summoning Charm?" Merula asks, looking at it with interest.
"Give it back," Zarif requests again sighing.
"What are you trying to summon?" Merula asks smirking.
"It can be used on many things like books, tools, etc," Zarif says.
"That's it, huh? What a waste of good spells," Merula could only say as she reads the book closely.
"Ok, let me put it this way. You can use it to steal a dragon egg," Zarif says.
Merula stops and slowly turns to him with an evil smile on her face.
"But there are spells that can block it so no thieves can just steal anything," Zarif says.
Merula now frowns at that.
"Now the book please," Zarif requests.
Merula clicks her tongue and tosses it at him before walking off.
'I got her interest,' Zarif thinks.
By eleven o'clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars. The seats might be raised high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes. Zarif, meanwhile, started out with Hermione and Ron till Merula grabs him and finds himself in another section.
"Why did you drag me here?" Zarif mutters and crosses his arms.
"To watch together without others bothering us," Merula says as they are now mixed in with the Ravenclaws.
Zarif rolls his eyes and just keeps his eyes on the match. Everyone waited impatiently the houses competing today already stamping, cheering, and general behavior at a sports game. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff contrary was were more relaxed and waiting patiently till the two teams came out along with Madam Hooch, the referee who released the bludgers and snitch before tossing the quaffle hard into the air. Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle, signaling the game had started.
Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. They were off. "And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor, what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too," someone commentated.
"JORDAN!" Professor McGonagall's voice came from the loudspeakers.
"Sorry, Professor."
"What the heck?" Zarif mutters to himself.
"Isn't the commentator of your house?" Merula asks.
"Yeah…but he is the twins' friend. So you can guess where all that came from," Zarif explains.
"Well then…" Merula starts, but stops and her expression soured when Gryffindor's team scored a goal.
Zarif could only smirk at what she is giving off. 'At least she can bring some entertainment of her house losing.'
The two kept watching the match until something strange happened. It seemed that Harry's broom was revolting against him and trying to throw him off. "Hello," Zarif says watching this through binoculars.
"Someone needs to return that," Merula says, a bit happy that her house is now getting points.
"…someone is cursing it," Zarif says quite sure.
"And how are you that sure?" Merula almost demands.
"Well, the way it is moving," Zarif said remembering back to his lessons under Merlin.
"Are you sure?" Merula asks unconvinced.
"Yes and hello…someone isn't blinking," Zarif says before Merula takes the binoculars from him, choking him a bit with the strap.
"Snape? Seriously?" Merula asks, unaware of his choking.
"Above him," Zarif chokes out.
Merula looks above Snape and notices other professors just watching it all. "Yeah. Don't see him."
"Turban," Zarif chokes, patting her arms to stop.
"Qouriall? Really?" Merula asks, still confused.
"Dying," Zarif chokes out, his face starting to change colors.
"They are not…oh," Zarif mutters and drops the binoculars and lets him go.
"Thank you for at last letting me breathe," Zarif says now on the ground after having inhaled a large breath.
Merula rolls her eyes and keeps watching Harry try and regain control.
After a bit, Harry managed to get back on his broom to Merula's relief and disappointment that Gryffindor got their seeker back.
"Guess we don't need that mattress anymore," Zarif says.
The two watches as Harry started to dive and when he hit the ground he looked like he was going to be sick then he seemingly spat up something and proclaimed he had the snitch. "Seems Gryffindor won," Zarif says looking to Merula.
Merula growls under her breath before huffing and looking away.
Zarif says nothing as he heads out of the crowd of Ravenclaws, trying to find his way back to his Gryffindor friends.
Merula watches him carefully as he leaves before sighing. "Great job on your house."
"I need to speak with you later," Zarif says.
Merula raises an eyebrow at that before shaking her head and looking disappointed at her house heading back to the locker rooms.
"Well…I learned something very interesting today," Zarif says to Merula.
"And that is?" Merila asks, both of them in a corner of the courtyard.
"Hagrid owns a cerberus and he named it Fluffy," Zarif says.
"Who the heck names a cerberus Fluffy?" Merula asks, almost wondering at the thought.
"Apparently, Hagrid," Zarif says leaning back.
Merula sighs and hangs her head before looking at him. "Why tell me this? It's not important to my life."
"It's in the forbidden corridor," Zarif informs.
Now Merula becomes quiet at that fact and looks away from him to stare out at the canyon.
"Yep…so I have noticed you toned down bullying me lately," Zarif says.
"I should bring it back up then if you miss it," Merula says smiling at the thought.
"Eh, focus on Draco and his backup dancers more. Them squirming is fun to watch," Zarif says.
Merula smiles even more. "I should use that line."
"Please do," Zarif says smirking harder.
Merula actually giggles at that.
'Whoa. That was actually quite cute,' Zarif thinks, not daring to say that aloud.
Merula sighs and turns on him with her usual expression. "Don't tell anyone I did that."
"Did what?" Zarif asks.
Merula nods before returning to staring out at the view.
"So yeah…also, you remember we have to do an essay together before next potions class, right?" Zarif asks.
"Shoot," Merula curses and frowns heavily.
"Library?" Zarif asks.
"Sure," Merula sighs.
Zarif waves his wand in a far-off area of the courtyard, trying to practice some of the spells before the wand recoils back and he huffs. Looking around for a bit, he puts his wand away and waves his hand around before smiling as a little puff of flame appears before him.
"How do you do that?" Merula asks behind him.
Zarif snaps his fingers and the puff of flame disappear. "Sending the magic through my hand instead of my wand."
"You can do that?" Merula asks surprised.
"Wizards didn't always have wands," Zarif informs.
"So…I can do it?" Merula asks curiously.
"With enough practice, yes. Basically, wands are there to focus magic through, but you can still do it without them," Zarif informs.
"And how long did it take you?" Merula asks.
"I am still working on it. But same principals. Just need to focus your magic without channeling through the wand," Zarif says.
Merula looks at her own hands in thought. "Maybe…give me a spell."
"Hum…what about your knockback jinx," Zarif suggests.
Merula hums before lifting a hand and waves her hand around before snapping his fingers and only a few sparkes happened.
"See? You already got it…I guess it is easier to learn it from wand to no wand," Zarif says.
Merula was about to snap her fingers again and reels her arm back before Zarif grabs her arm and slowly pushes it down. "Though, give it some thought of what you will use."
"It feels like something hot running through my veins," Merula mentions.
"Strange. It is supposed to be ice cold," Zarif says, mostly to himself.
"Flipendo," Merula says, trying to cast it at him only for small sparks to come out.
"If you are trying to duel me, don't. It takes a long time to learn," Zarif warns as he still thinks.
"Hum," Meruna hums, looking at her hand and now thinking.
"So…are you going to learn about this?" Zarif asks, looking at her curiously.
"…yes," Merula says.
Zarif smiles a little. "Going to take a while to control it. Use the wrong spell and you may end up blasting a floor."
"Uh huh," Merula says before seeing a blue flame in front of her now and instead of heat, she felt cold coming from it.
"Try this spell," Zarif says showing the motions and saying the spell.
Merula looks to her hand before to mimic his motions before saying the word and nothing happens.
"It will take time. Try it when you are not busy and when no one is around to see it," Zarif lectures.
"Why not? Why not show this off?" Merula questions.
"Well, for starters, how does everyone in this school pressing you on how you did that sound?" Zarif asks.
Merula stops for a moment as she felt slightly guilty of doing the same to him.
"So you see my point?" Zarif asks.
Merula slowly nods and looks away a bit.
"Now we best move before someone sees what we are trying to do," Zarif says.
Merula watches him walk past her before following, thinking back to when she first met him and only thought of him as a cripple.
Winter came on strong that year as many tried to keep warm in Hogwarts. Especially in potions in the dungeons. Most students were sticking close to their cauldrons as they work. Though there was fun to be had as well especially with the random snowball fight.
Merula's attitude had also shifted a bit for Zarif, Harry, Ron, and Hermione that is. Everyone else, she was still the same. Though Snape noticed her change in her demeanor towards her potions class partner and how they seemed to be working well together now.
"I do feel so sorry," Draco Malfoy says, one potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."
He was looking over at Harry as he spoke. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled. Harry, who was measuring out the powdered spine of lionfish, ignored them. Malfoy had been even more unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch match. Disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, he had tried to get everyone laughing at how a wide-mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry as Seeker next. Then he'd realized that nobody found this funny, because they were all so impressed at the way Harry had managed to stay on his bucking broomstick. So Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family.
'I am so tempted to release Merula off her chain,' Zarif chuckles at before looking to her and he could tell by her expression she was very displeased. "Get him later for you are about to burn your hand," Zarif says.
Merula moves her hand away from the flame and shakes it free of the heat. "Thanks."
Zarif nods as they continue before class ended with Snape's inspection. In the end, he gave them the highest grade of the class. Even though they started off with their cauldron falling apart to the smirk of Draco.
Zarif sighs as he looks at his things and packs some of them away. "Just like real cooking. One bit wrong and you can die."
"Revenge on Malfoy for this will be sweet," Marula mutters as she gathers her things as well and heads out the door to see a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead.
"Coming through," the voice of Hagrid says.
"That's a nice tree," Zarif mutters under his breath as he spotted Hagrid's feet.
"Hi, Hagrid, want any help?" Ron asked, sticking his head through the branches.
"Nah. I got it. You kids enjoy yourself," Hagrid says chuckling as he drags the tree into the Great Hall.
"Would you mind moving out of the way?" came Malfoy's cold drawl from behind them. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose," Draco starts.
"Hey, Malfoy. We know what you did," Zarif says as Merula was trying to burn a hole through him with a glare now.
"Yeah, it was so funny you sabotaging our cauldron. We will have to think of how to repay you," Merula states with a mix of a sweet tone and venom. Hearing this, Draco started to pale and ran pass with his back up dancers.
"Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas," Hagrid says. "Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat." So the five of them followed Hagrid and his tree off to the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas decorations.
"Talk about a holiday," Zarif says smiling generally as he looks around.
"Ah, Hagrid, the last tree put it in the far corner, would you?" Flitwick requests, directing Hagrid.
The hall looked spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls, and no less than twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles.
"How many days you got left until yer holidays?" Hagrid asked now sitting with the five.
"Just one," said Hermione. "And that reminds me. Harry, Ron, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."
'What about?' Zarif thinks.
"Oh yeah, you're right," said Ron, tearing his eyes away from Professor Flitwick, who had golden bubbles blossoming out of his wand and was trailing them over the branches of the new tree.
"The library?" said Hagrid, following them out of the hall. "Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?"
"Oh, we're not working," Harry told him brightly. "Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is."
"Nicolas Flamel? Why are you looking up the creator of the philosopher's stone? You trying to do extra work to get a better grade in potions or history?" Zarif asks.
"Wait. You know him?" Harry asks.
"Yeah, he is one of the greatest alchemists still alive despite being over six hundred years old. I think he is even on Dumbledore's card," Zarif informs.
There was an uncomfortable silence at the table as the three stared at Zarif and Hagrid looked uncomfortable. "What?"
"Could you two meet us in the library as well?" Hermione asks.
"Why me?" Zarif asks, frowning slightly.
"Because you can help," Ron says.
Zarif sighs agreeing as Hagrid look more disgruntled than before. Zarif and Merula were brought up to speed on what was happening of the groups' suspicion of Snape trying to steal whatever the dog they had told them about was guarding. Apparently, they had looked through Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, Notable Magical Names of Our Time, Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. But with Zarif's tidbit, they now knew where to look and started researching.
As they were doing that, Zarif went to the librarian and asked if there were any books on magical ailments. Pointing him to the medical section, he searched for anything close to special ailments or even rare types. Only coming across the complete listing of ailments in version six and Unseen Magic. It was a very interesting read for the most part for some of the things in it, but when they came to Vengeactus syndrome, there was literally nothing but the effects of it. No causes or possible treatments.
Zarif sighs as he closes the book. "Dammit."
"You won't find it," Merula says quietly as she walks up. "Your condition…one in a million."
"Uh huh," Zarif says closing the book.
Merula shakes her head before sighing. "Look…it's not going to be possible. You won't find any official way to handle this. But at least they will put you in certain tests that will account for your condition."
"Well, one thing is for sure. I know why I get such special treatment. Extra classes, weekly check-ups by the hospital wing, etc," Zarif says.
"Some don't," Merula adds as she takes the books and puts them away.
"Yes…thanks for not treating me different," Zarif says unaware that Filch and the librarian were listening in.
"You were an easy target, till you didn't show it that easily," Merula states as a matter of fact.
"Well, either way, we have to continue on our homework. Say, are you going home for the holidays?" Zarif asks.
Merula shakes her head.
"I guess we will be spending time together," Zarif says.
Merula gives a little chuckle. "Words I thought would never be used about us."
"Well, I guess we should start on the holiday homework, right?" Zarif asks.
Merula nods. "What do you want to start with?"
"Eh…let's go with potions," Zarif says.
"Sure. Come on," Merula says leading him away.
Zarif smiles as he put the book back and heads out with her.