Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Serenity, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry, Nick and any name you don't recognize, and isn't from the HP universe) are entirely my own.
Chapter 30: "Coming of Age"
"Mr. Prince," Professor Darius Prescott called out over the heads of his students. "Please stay behind for a moment."
Septimus, Helena and his friends started; for they had never heard their professor speak so loudly before. The dark haired teenager swallowed heavily at the sight of the elder's face, which was set firm and cold. The friends all glanced at each other warily, before quickly retreating to the classroom door, leaving Septimus standing all alone.
"Come forward please," Prescott said firmly. Septimus frowned slightly; his potions professor had never spoken to him like that before. The professor was always soft spoken, even when reprimanding his students.
"Sit," Prescott said briskly, as his conjured up a chair in front of his desk. Slowly Septimus sank into the wooden spindle seat, and let his book bag drop to the floor with a great, heavy thud.
"I want to have a discussion with you about the trip," the professor stated, as he folded his hands on the top of his desk; his dark amber eyes studying Septimus' black ones carefully.
"Oh! Is that all," Septimus exclaimed, as he released the breath the he had been holding.
"I did not give you permission to speak yet Mr. Prince," Prescott snarled lightly, causing the boy's eyes and head to snap back up to attention. Septimus' mouth snapped shut quickly; his black eyes widened with a bit of fear.
"I must confess, I am disappointed in you," Prescott lectured, as he stepled his fingers. "In the six years I have known you; I have never known you to be a whiny, self-centered brat." Septimus' mouth remained shut, but his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Last Thursday when I was at your home, I was under the impression that there had been a rift between you and your parents," Prescott continued firmly. "Is this a correct assumption, Mr. Prince?"
"Ye...yes," Septimus stuttered.
"What was that, Mr. Prince?" Prescott asked with a light sneer.
"Yes, sir."
"That's better," Prescott said; his eyes never leaving the boy's. "Now. On Monday afternoon, I flooed your parents to discuss more about the trip with them, and they told me of your behavior from the week before. Your father seemed extremely disgusted by your behavior...as am I.
"Septimus," Prescott sighed heavily, his face softening a bit. "You are going to be seventeen soon. You're a perfect. A top student. A phenomenal Quidditch player, and one hell of a dueler. But I never thought I'd see the day you would become a spoiled brat.
"And..." Prescott paused; hardening his face once more. "If I see that type of display here at school...I will remove you from the trip list and find someone else. Understood."
"Yes, sir."
"Good," the professor exclaimed, as he summoned a small black handbag to himself. "Now then. Your father and I discussed a few things concerning the state that UK is still in, and he has come up with a list of spells and even a few hexes that he would like you to know before the trip."
"What's in the bag?" Septimus asked quietly, as he was still uncertain if the professor would start in on him again.
"Books," Prescott said simply, as he handed the bag over to his student. "About twenty in all. I've highlighted all of the spells that your parents wish for you to learn. We would like you to study and practice them as much as possible, especially the Patronus Charm."
"Twenty books?" Septimus frowned, as he held up the small midnight colored handbag; which didn't even look like it could hold one, let alone twenty. "In here?"
"An undetectable extension charm, Mr. Prince," the professor chuckled, as he waved his wand, clearing the chalkboard behind him. "Your mother's idea actually. She said she used it herself while in school. Makes it a lot easier than carrying twenty books by hand, especially the ones that are in there."
"Septimus!"
"Hey Septimus!"
The thunder from the feet of four boys flooded up the corridor. Brooms in hand, the weather had become considerably better over the last few weeks; and it was on most of the students' minds. Except for one.
"Come on Sept!" Kyle Fuchs shouted, as he and the other three burst into their dorm room. "Weather's nice! Let's go down to the ..."
All four boys came to a dead stop in the center of the room, peering at the sight before them. Their dorm mate and Quidditch Captain was sitting amongst a pile of books and parchment and broken quills; frantically writing down the last passage that he had read.
"Sept?" Justin Burke asked slowly. "What are you doing?"
"Studying," Septimus replied simply, as he brushed his long black hair out of his eyes.
"For finals already?" Mike Palmer chuckled. "They're not for another month!"
"And you never have to study that hard," Carlos Gonzalo laughed along. "You're naturally smart."
"It's not for finals," Septimus muttered, as his eyes scanned over the text in from of him.
"Not for finals?" Justin frowned, as the others ceased their chuckling. "Then what the hell are you studying for?" The four boys glanced at each other before Mike cautiously approached Septimus' bed and carefully picked up a book.
"Self-Defensive Spellwork," Mike said, as he read the title of the book in his hand, before grabbing another. "The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts. Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts."
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," Carlos read the cover of the book closest to him. "Defensive Magical Theory. The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. The Dark Arts Outsmarted."
"Curses and Counter-curses," Justin frowned, as he picked the book up and started flipping through it. "Compendium of Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions. Confronting the Faceless. Asiatic Anti-Venoms.
"Guide to Advanced Occlumency. Secrets of the Darkest Art. Magick Most Evile," Kyle read, and then frowned deeply. "Sept, is there something we should know?"
"No. Why?" Septimus murmured from within the book he was now holding.
"Well, it's just that..." Mike paused, as he rubbed the back of his neck. "You've been holing yourself up the last couple of weeks, and now we find you reading books about defense and Occlumency and...and the Dark Arts. What are you getting into?"
"It's nothing," Septimus said, waving them off. "I'm just doing some extra reading that's all."
"Extra reading," Carlos snorted. "Come on Sept, this stuff is not light reading. We've been roommates for six years, and we never lie to each other. What is going on?"
"And we want the truth," Justin stated, as he crossed his arms over his chest. Septimus slowly looked up from his books on Patronuses, and met the hard stares of his four roommates. He knew they were right, but he also knew he couldn't tell them the full truth. He probably never could.
"Alright," Septimus sighed, as he threw the book down in defeat. "I'm reading them for the trip this summer."
"Sept, that's a Potions trip," Justin commented, still frowning. "What does...Patronuses and...Counter-curses have to do with your trip?"
"Fine," Septimus groaned, as he settled back into his pillow. "Mom and dad are a bit paranoid about me going; especially since we are going to Scotland. They're afraid that there are still some major problems over there despite the war being over."
"Scotland?" Kyle questioned. "What does Scotland have to do with that war?"
"You idiot," Mike snorted. "Hogwarts is in Scotland. That's where that big battle took place."
"So...," Kyle shrugged, flopping down onto his bed. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Yeah," Justin agreed. "It's not like Prescott is sending Septimus out to duel dark wizards or something."
"But my dad said there's still threats over there," Mike replied. "Not all of that dark wizard's followers were captured at the battle."
"That's what Aurors are for, dummy," Kyle snapped back, throwing his pillow at Mike's head.
"They can't..."
"Will you guys shut up!" Septimus barked, as one of his hands gripped his quill tightly, and the other ran through his midnight hair. "I'm still trying to read here!"
"Jeez, what's up your butt?" Justin scoffed, as he leaned on his broom's handle.
"I just really have to learn all of this," Septimus sighed heavily. "Okay!? And I only have four and a half more weeks to do it."
"I think you're going a bit overboard Sept," Carlos said. "I mean, Zach's not even studying like this, and he's going with you. Why kill yourself studying over something that probably won't happen?"
"Because if I don't learn most of this by the time the trip happens, I'm not allowed to go," Septimus snapped, throwing the book on Patronuses down onto his book-covered bed.
"Not allowed to go?" Mike frowned. "Who says?"
"My parents..." Septimus grumbled. "And Prescott. They'll be testing me the week before I leave, and if I don't pass, I can't go."
"Geesh," Kyle huffed. "Why are they so worried? It's not like anyone is targeting you personally. Zach's parents aren't even that nervous about him going."
"That's because his parents are Muggles," Justin said, as he leaned his broom against the wall next to his bed. "They don't know much about our world."
"Listen," Septimus sighed, piling up the papers in front of him. "It's just what I promised them that I would do this. And I really want to go on this trip. So I'm going to do whatever it takes to make it. Okay?"
"Will you at least put it aside on Sunday?" Carlos asked, as he unhooked his navy blue cloak.
"Sunday?" Septimus frowned, looking towards his roommate.
"Your birthday, Sept," Mike chuckled. "You're the last one of us to come of age!"
"Yeah," Kyle smirked, summoning his pillow back to him. "We gotta do something fun at least."
"Or are you going to hole yourself up with Helena and find a nice dark corner somewhere?" Justin grinned, as he made kissing noises at the dark hair boy.
"Like you're one to talk," Septimus mocked, throwing his own pillow at him. "Don't you remember that it was me who caught you and Becca Ames necking on the third floor last week?"
"Damn you prefects," Justin grumbled. "I almost got to second base with her that night too. I had just gotten my hands up inside the bottom of her shirt when you showed up."
"Does her boyfriend know this?" Kyle teased, just before receiving a pillow to his head by Justin.
"I keep telling you, they've broken up!" Justin snarled at the laughing roommate.
"And you just jumped right in, didn't you?" Mike smirked, as he leaned against his own bed.
"Who could blame me," Justin grinned widely. "She's freaking hot! And she's got the best..."
"Okay!" Carlos shouted. "We get it! We've all seen her you know! You don't need to give out any details."
"Well some of us would like to know," Kyle beamed, as he sat up and turned his attention to Justin. "Not all of us have girlfriends like you and Sept, you know."
"Speaking of my girlfriend," Septimus said, rolling his dark eyes at his roommates. "I am going to spend some time with her on Sunday, but we'll do something in the morning together."
"Sounds like a plan!" Mike smirked, with a plan already running through his head.
On Sunday morning, Septimus found himself being awoken by his four roommates piling on top of him. All too soon, he was opening bags of Acid Pops, Chocolate Frogs, Peppermint Toads, Licorice Wands, and a few dozen boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
After breakfast, the boys grabbed Caroline and Gwen, along with Nick, Henry and fifth year, Lynn Hazelwood; and the ten of them headed out to the pitch for a little five on five Quidditch game. Helena, Becca, Carlos' girlfriend, Marna Dowd, and several others sat in the stands, cheering on their little game.
By the time lunch rolled around, the group headed in for a bit to eat. They were all sitting in the dining hall, when Helena spotted her father's large black barn owl swooping in through an open window.
"Septimus!" Helena exclaimed, tugging on Septimus' sleeve. "Look!" Septimus turned around to find the black owl flying straight towards him, with two large packages in it's' grasp. The bird landed gracefully in front of him, hooting loudly in annoyance.
"Alright, alright," Septimus chuckled, as he and Helena undid the strings. "They must have been too heavy for Hermes."
"This one's from mom and dad," Helena said, as she eagerly handed a small box to him. Ripping the brown packaging off quickly, Septimus found himself staring at an enchanted razor and a Sneakoscope.
"Thought the latter would be useful on your trip. Happy Birthday! Love Christoph and Elisa," Septimus read off of the card. "Guess I'll have to read the instructions on how to use this one."
"Go on Sept," Justin smirked, as the group eagerly watched Septimus. "Open the next one!" Septimus grinned lightly, as he grabbed the second package and opened the card.
"Happy 17th Birthday Septimus!" Septimus read. "It is a tradition in the wizarding world, that a wizard or witch receives one when coming of age. This belonged to your father's family. Keep it safe. Love Mum, Dad and Serenity."
Septimus gingerly picked up the small package and carefully undid the green wrapping. The case inside was wooden and very old, but the item inside, Septimus figured, was even older.
Nestled in a bed of black velvet was a silver pocket watch. Its outside cover was ornately inscribed with what appeared to be serpents surrounding a beautifully engraved 'P' in the center. Carefully opening the lid, Septimus' eyes found a face of mother of pearl and silver hands, but it was the back of the cover that fascinated him the most. A list of names...with his at the bottom.
'Septimus Severus Prince, I (b: 1680; d: 1795)
Severus Septimus Prince (b: 1700; d: 1820)
Severus Damius Prince (b: 1734; d: 1824)
Damius Severus Prince, I (b: 1755; d: 1864)
Arcadius Severus Prince, I (b: 1778; d: 1880)
Damius Severus Prince, II (b: 1800; d: 1932)
Arcadius Severus Prince, II (b: 1825; d: 1950)
Severus Arcadius Prince, I (b: 1852; d: 1885)
Arcadius Octavius Prince (b: 1885; d: 1885)
Saxon Damius Prince (b: 1884; d: 1992)
Severus Arcadius Prince, II (b: 1960)
Septimus Severus Prince, II (b: 1982)'
"Wow..." Septimus breathed, as he stared at the three hundred year old pocket watch that now belonged to him.
"You were named after someone from your dad's family?" Helena asked, as she and Septimus finally found a quiet spot together out on the grounds. The two had settled down, on a blanket, next to an old oak tree, that sat along the banks of the Pottapaug Pond. They were some distance from the school, but still within the grounds; and here they knew, that they were less likely to be disturbed.
"Apparently," Septimus said, as he leaned back against the tree. "If I'm figuring it right, I'm named after my tenth great-grandfather."
"Your mom seems pretty proud of your family legacy," she smiled, as she settled into Septimus' side.
"I wouldn't know," Septimus muttered, as his eyes scanned over the still water. "They don't really talk about their families...especially their parents."
"Why?" Helena asked, as he placed his arm around her shoulders.
"I really don't know," Septimus sighed. "I just know that neither my mom nor dad got along with their dads; and both their moms died when they were young."
"That's too bad," Helena whispered, settling further into Septimus' embrace. "I wonder if their dads are still around?"
"I don't think they are," Septimus said, as he took out his wand and began flicking it in a familiar motion. "At least that's the way I take it."
"Hmm," she sighed, as her eyes followed Septimus' wand movements. "What are you doing?"
"Practicing my wand movement," he uttered. "I just can't seem to get this spell down."
"What spell?"
"The Patronus charm," Septimus grumbled, as he put his wand down in his lap.
"But that's a seventh year spell," Helena pointed out, as she sat up to face him. "And not even half of the..."
"I know," Septimus groaned. "Not even half of the students that attempt the spell can produce one."
"You're really nervous about not being able to go, aren't you?" she questioned quietly.
"Yeah," he whispered. "I feel like I have to get everything right for them. I owe it to them to improve myself before the trip."
"Did you apologize to them?"
"Not yet," Septimus sighed. "But I really should, shouldn't I. I acted like a jerk that week."
"Yeah, you did," Helena giggled, then gasped lightly. "Oh, I almost forgot your present!"
"I didn't have to..."
"Of course I did!" Helena exclaimed, as she dug into her bag. She pulled out a thin, rectangle package, wrapped in deep plum paper, and handed it to him. Septimus smiled gently at her, as he undid the wrapping to reveal a small leather bound journal.
"It's a two-way journal," Helena explained, as Septimus ran his hands over the black leather cover. "You have one, and I have one...and wherever we are, we can talk to each other through this."
"This...this is great Helena," Septimus smiled. "Thank you!"
"I figured you can use it on the trip," she went on. "That way we can still talk to each other, even if we can't see one another. You know if I wrote something when your little 'S' in the corner starts glowing; and my 'H' will glow when you write to me.
"I...I'm really going to miss you when you're away," Helena whimpered, looking down at her lap.
"Helena," Septimus chuckled, as he raised his fingers to her chin and gently lifted it up. "I'm only going to be gone two weeks. It's not like I'm going to be gone for a year or more!"
"I know," she sighed heavily. "But we've never been apart that long."
"I know..."
"And I can't stand not seeing you almost every day, because..." she paused, sniffling a little.
"Because?"
"Because...," Helena paused again, before meeting his black eyes with her hazel ones. "I love you."
"You...you do?" Septimus breathed, gaping lightly at his strawberry-blond girlfriend.
"Yeah," Helena smiled, even though a tear escaped her eyes. "I think I always have."
"I love you too, Helena," Septimus whispered, as he drew her into his arms and brought his lips to hers.
The sun began to slowly set over the tarn, as the two teenagers remained in each other embrace. For the day couldn't have been better for the now seventeen year old. He had his parents, his sister, his wonderful girlfriend and great friends. But for many others, the second of May held a very different meaning...
a/n: I know...a bit of a cliffhanger, but the next chapter will bring back Severus and Katherine, along with some old familiar faces! :) Hint, hint...
Disclaimers for this chapter are the book titles! All of the books that are mentioned in this chapter belong to Rowling!
A big thank you to xxxMadameMysteryxxx, Guest, Tara Cytherea, lightbabe, Mira Severus Sirius Black-Snape, Missyick, xxyangxx2006, PMtheHBP fan & Backward Mind for your wonderful reviews! Also thank you to all who have added this story to your follows and/or favs!
Chapter 31 had been started, and I hope to have it finished before Thanksgiving!
