Chapter Fifteen
It was one of the lighter lessons this morning as the children got on their brooms. Professor Leofwine Jacks instructing them how to ride quickly and safety this lesson. The elderly professor got on his broom and rose up in the air. He urged his students to do the same. Lucy noticed Argus watching the class from afar, he looked sad as he could only wish he was able to do that.
"Follow me children. For once, we are leaving the training grounds and flying away properly" Jacks announced.
The children looked very excited as they all kicked off the ground. Their feet dangling from their broomsticks as they lifted up in the air. The elderly professor began to ride left and a sea of a dozen first-years were seen flying behind away from the grounds. Tom Riddle was in front as always and he was flawless on his broomstick, everyone admitted it. Avery, Nott and Lestrange not far behind him for they were also quite impressive. The professor picked up his speed and so the other students had to do that as they flew over the castle. Bored students in lessons looking out the castle windows at them. Lucy briefly looked down as she could see the great lake underneath them now. The children flew over some of the great lake before turning back. As the elderly professor zoomed back towards the training ground. He and the children landing safely back onto the ground with pure joy.
"Looks like you are all fully-fledged fliers children. As you know, only those who wish to join up for quidditch will carry on with me in year two. As you have all grasped the basics of broomstick flying. You won't need me again unless you are willing to join the quidditch team" Jacks explained.
Some of them looked gutted as this lesson was a nice break for them. Though they knew it was coming as they had no exams coming up for flying. So it wasn't really needed now. The teachers wanted them to focus solely on the subjects which had an exam at the end of them. Some of them looked at each other, wondering if anyone was going to try out for the quidditch team for year two. Nott and two Gryffindor students seemed keen.
"No way would you ever see me in quidditch. I would likely die from getting hit from a bludger" Myrtle spoke to Lucy.
"I'm not keen on it either" Lucy admitted.
"Did you know Olive Hornby is a chaser? I saw her flying around when I went to the match last time"
"I haven't been to a match yet. I will though one day...I'm rather keen to see if Archibald is as good as Argus makes out"
"He is good. He's in Ravenclaw like me. Of cause he's good" Myrtle announced proudly.
Jacks got out a parchment from his pocket. Passing Nott and the two Gryffindor students a quill and black ink. As the three of them signed their names up for the upcoming trials in a few months time for they would be in year two by September and would be allowed to try out for a place. Tom Riddle looked slightly disgruntled that one of his so-called friends would dare do something not involved in his cause. Nott was just wasting time in his eyes. Lucy briefly looked at him as she whispered in Myrtle's ear...
"Tom is such a killjoy"
Though she was too afraid to even utter his name in a whisper. As she gave a nervous smile in response.
...
"Is he not returning?" Albus Dumbledore was asking Armando Dippet.
The two men were talking about Abraxas Malfoy at the staff table in the 'Great Hall'. His sudden leaving had made 'The Daily Prophet'. It now spread beyond the school as a couple of failed private tutors' applicants gave interviews to a couple of journalists. Expressing how Abraxas seemed to have been taken out of Hogwarts for good. He was currently being taught by a private tutor at 'Malfoy Manor'. Dippet found the whole thing rather embarrassing.
"Not at the moment. I have written an apology on Professor Slughorn's behalf and we'll see how well he responds. I'm afraid however that Tom Riddle's exclusion would be the only incentive for Irving to let him return. As I have no reason to exclude Tom, it looks as if he's staying home" Dippet explained with regret.
"He will live a lonely life in Malfoy Manor" Albus spoke with equal regret.
"As do they all, Albus"
The students were eating their evening meal during this conversation. As they sat on their respective house tables. A lot of them had the 'Daily Prophet' open with the headline saying "Forced military service for muggle men: Wizards excluded". Underneath that read "Malfoy's return to home-schooling". Lucy and friends briefly glanced at it however only the older students understood the gravity of it all. As the third-years and above were far more engrossed. Some of the seventh-year boys were debating on whether they wanted to even get involved in the muggle war.
"My father have been putting up shield charms around our house again. In case the bombs return" Ruth Fisk explained to her friends.
"I wish we had that. We just have to build shelters" Lucy spoke with worry.
"I'll ask him if he can do it to your home, Lucy. If we know war is breaking out, I'll try and ask him" Ruth tried to assure her.
Though the truth was that a lot of the wizarding families didn't bother. Mainly because if a whole muggle street got destroyed except for one. It would look deeply suspicious and a trial at the ministry would probably be carried out on the witch or wizard who did it. In the first muggle war, a few muggle-borns got arrested as their 'miracle house' got in muggle newspapers.
"Her house is in a muggle street. He won't be able to" Poppy chimed in.
"Alright. No need to scare her even more" Ruth said with a sigh.
Victoria Abbot was trying not to involve herself in the conversation. Poppy just muttered something about being realistic. The girls eating more of their dinner and avoiding the subject for a bit. As they talked about homework and exams instead, saying how difficult it was. It was quite easy for those three girls to forget about it as they were safe with shield charms. Not so much for muggle-borns like Lucy who didn't have that.
"I can't even think about homework" Lucy admitted to them.
A bit further on, the Slytherin table was talking about Abraxas Malfoy being home-schooled. Tom Riddle didn't have any interest. He was just thinking and dreading about the thought of being sent back to the orphanage. He has so much sway here over the other students. He was well aware he couldn't do magic in the orphanage anymore. He had asked for Eileen Prince to visit him there as she lived in London too.
"If I can I will, if not. I'll write to you" Eileen promised him.
"Of cause yes. Write to me if nothing else. The thought of going back there just makes me shudder" Tom admitted.
"I'm sure it's not that bad"
"Yes it is. I live with muggles" Tom hissed quietly.
Eileen went to speak however she closed her mouth again. She was about to stick up for muggles but thought better against it.
...
"Take out your books please" Albus Dumbledore instructed his class.
As the first-years were sat in transfiguration. Mice were placed in small cages on each desk as they were learning to turn mice into snuffboxes. There was always an empty seat now as Abraxas Malfoy had gone. Peter Avery had to sit on his own these days as he was in the corner. Albus had began to write on the blackboard as he instructed his students to write down these notes Lucy began scribbling away as per usual. She was a hardworking student if nothing else, she might not have been good at every lesson but she tried her best. Myrtle Warren meanwhile seemed to be improving as she had began to prove she was worthy of being in Ravenclaw.
"Remember that this will be on your exam in June. I want you all to listen very carefully. I don't want to see snuffboxes with whiskers" Albus began as he underlined the final instruction.
"This is amateur work, Sir. We have been transfiguring small animals into objects for weeks now" Tom Riddle dared speak up.
"Are you telling me you find it too easy, Tom?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes. Don't get me wrong...There are some students here that may find it difficult but for us more skilled witches and wizards, Sir. It's as easy as counting to three"
Dumbledore paused for a few moments.
"Well thank you for your input, Tom. I'm expecting perfects results from you in the upcoming exam in that case. As a first-year however, you understand we can't teach you spells that aren't on the exam as it would be fruitless" Dumbledore explained politely.
Lucy briefly glancing over at Tom. He always seemed to tire of basic spells, charms and potions. He was an excellent pupil and was far more advanced then all his classmates. Lessons like seemed like mere inconveniences to him as he learned more advanced magic in his spare time.
"Right, since you think my lessons are too easy. I expect perfect results from everyone" Dumbledore joked.
Getting some smiles in return. The lesson carried on without a hitch really as the children began to turn mice into snuffboxes.
...
TBC