CH 06 Unlikely Friends
As the students of Hogwarts settled into a routine, time flew by quickly. It was soon October 31st, as evidenced by the abundance of carved pumpkins and charmed bat decorations.
Lycoris found it all terribly gaudy but he approved of the additional candied treats during meals.
Classes remained as unimpressive as ever, even Dumbledore's Transfiguration class was laughably easy. It was worse though in Dumbledore's class because the man was a bigot. He was like Snape, but instead of favoring the Slytherins it was the Gryffidors who got all the preferential treatment. He didn't grumble or complain about it like the other Slytherins, particularly Aurelius, because at least the man knew better than to give an O paper an E or A just because it was written by a Slytherin.
If Lycoris didn't have his extracurriculars and the Invisibility Cloak to sneak into the restricted section of the library, he was sure his brain would have grown mold already. That and one Newt Scamander.
His relationship with Newt was a strange one. He knew the Hufflepuff probably thought of them as friends but Blacks and Slytherins didn't have friends. And he was both so that made it doubly so.
Still, he found himself doing friend-like things with the other boy and having a tolerance for his company that he rarely afforded anyone else other than his brothers.
It was all very confusing and disturbingly fluffy and, well, Hufflepuff. But he couldn't deny that time with the older boy was fairly amusing and provided a distraction from the tedium.
And he would never admit it but the Hufflepuff had a strange ability to get him to let down his considerable defenses, and that was saying something as Lycoris was not exempt from the famous Black paranoia.
"Scamander. Has your Care class covered thestrals yet?"
They were currently in the kitchens, digging into a lunch that consist of mostly sugary pies and small cakes on Lycoris' part and being waited on hand and foot by the excitable Hogwarts house elves.
It was Newt who had first introduced him to the kitchens, though Lycoris pretended that it was his first time being there. Technically that was true, it had been Harry who had been to the kitchens before after all.
"You can call me Newt, you know. And yes, we went over thestrals. Fascinating creatures, though I've only seen pictures and sketches." Pushing over a dish of ham sandwiches, Newt reminded the younger boy, "Eating too much sweets isn't healthy for a growing boy."
Ignoring the familiar chiding, Lycoris replied, "For your information, I'm perfectly healthy, Scamander." Still, he reluctantly took up a sandwich and was treated to a wide pleased smile from the other. "Do you want to be able to see what they look like in person?"
Newt shot an exasperated look at his companion for his stubbornness but dropped the issue for now, "Well seeing as one would have to have witnessed death first in order to be able to see them in person, I'm not sure I'm all that keen on the prospect."
"What if I have a way around that clause?"
"Do you?" Newt asked with interest.
Lycoris smirked, "Come to the Forbidden Forest with me tonight and you'll find out."
"Sure!" An eager response that stemmed from more than just his interest in all manners of magical creatures.
"Well then. I'll pick you up outside your common rooms." Wiping his lips elegantly with a napkin, Lycoris gracefully stood up. "I have double Potions now. Later."
"I have a free period. I can walk you there." Newt stood up as well, though less gracefully.
"I'm not a girl. I hardly need to be walked anywhere." Lycoris rolled his eyes. But he didn't say anything more and Newt knew him better by now than to take what Lycoris said to be a rejection. If Lycoris didn't want your company you would know.
Grinning brightly, Newt hurried to walk in place with the Slytherin.
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As Newt left Lycoris at the door of the Potions classroom in the company of his fellow Slytherins, he still felt amazed and slightly disbelieving.
It had been two months of them spending free time together like friends, no matter what the stubborn boy said. They had gone well past being just acquaintances and moved onto friend territory. Even Newt knew that much despite his lack of experience with such relationships.
He still spent time with Leta of course, but separately since the first disastrous meeting between Lycoris and Leta. Leta had been her usual moody self though he noticed that her pureblood mannerisms became more pronounced. Lycoris had responded accordingly. It was all very civil and polite but underlined with dismissal and boredom from Lycoris and embarrassment and resentment from Leta. That had been the end of any efforts Newt had put into having his two only friends become friends as well.
Newt should have known better, really. Lycoris could be rather dismissive of things he had no interest in which could be construed as personal by someone as sensitive as Leta. It had been uncomfortable and Newt wouldn't be repeating that experience anytime soon, if ever.
It was an eye-opening experience, however, because the Lycoris he came to know was a brilliant and charming conversationalist open with his expressions and endearingly childish and particular at times with a wicked humor and a snarky mouth. It was the first time seeing him so, well, Slytherin and pureblood. Now he knew what Leta meant by Lycoris being adept at the political game because there was not a crack in the boy's mask of cool disinterest and formal mannerisms. He felt a little guilty towards Leta, but it warmed him to know that Lycoris had never put up a mask around him.
He was really glad he had met Lycoris and somehow caught the elusive Slytherin's interest. His boarding school life had changed drastically ever since Lycoris became involved. The younger boy wasn't aware of it but Newt knew that the other was responsible for the lack of any bullies he now had to deal with. He sometimes wondered what it would have been like if he met Lycoris earlier. It would have probably been more interesting he thought with fondness as he recalled the escapades Lycoris always pulled him into after curfew, assisted by Lycoris' handy invisibility cloak.
He was looking forward to tonight's adventure.
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Newt froze, pressed against Lycoris under the invisibility cloak, as Dumbledore walked past the corner they were hidden in.
Even as his heart pumped faster in nerves, he couldn't help but to take notice of the peculiar but pleasing scent of lilies coming from Lycoris' hair, a scent fairly familiar to him now after being in close contact with the owner for quite awhile.
"Did you just sniff me?" Lycoris hissed at Newt as they continue to walk down the halls and out the main doors, causing him to flush red in caught embarrassment.
"Sorry-it's just-your shampoo.…." Newt trailed off, flustered.
Lycoris rolled his eyes, "It's my natural scent. I was born with it." Grumbling, the young Black scion glared at seemingly nothing, "It's a pain, smelling like a girl. Thank Merlin it's subtle enough, usually. It's only during All Hallow's Eve when the scent becomes stronger. Don't ask. It's related to Family Magicks."
"Oh. Well it's not bad. I don't think it's all that girly." Newt earnestly replied.
Lycoris only rolled his eyes in response but Newt could just make out a pleased quirk of his lips.
They soon made it out onto the grounds and to the paddock just a little way inside the Forbidden Forest where the thestrals were kept.
Lycoris pulled the Invisibility Cloak off and stuffed it into his robe's pocket.
"Ready to see them?" Lycoris grinned mischievously before waving a long grey wand that was visibly different from the ivory and silver wand he normally saw Lycoris using.
But his thoughts were soon taken up by the hauntingly beautiful creatures that materialized in front of him.
Awed, Newt stepped forward to pet one of the thestrals surrounding Lycoris on its skeletal nose.
"How?"
"Well, a combination of factors really. It's All Hallow's Eve when the divide between the dead and the living is thinner, and as thestrals are essentially creatures that fall under Death's dominion, they can be seen on this day by all of the living. But only if a specific ritual and sacrifice is performed beforehand, which I already did this morning. I thought it would be appropriate for celebrating the Day of the Dead." Lycoris explained as he got out a sack of raw meat from his magically expanded pockets.
Newt hurried to take the information down on the notebook he kept with him at all times.
"What ritual was it?"
At this innocuous question, the Slytherin boy's thin but startlingly red lips quirked in a funny half-smile. "Secret."
Newt's curiosity was peaked but he knew better than to continue the line of question after catching sight of that strange smile and the look in those intense green eyes that were visible even in the dark, like cat eyes.
He had suspicions on the nature of the ritual though and it was most likely illegal. He was never more reminded of his young friend's identity as a dark wizard and his family background than now.
"Scared, Scamander?" Large vibrant green eyes peered at him through long thick lashes, looking for all the world like the eyes of an innocent kitten.
And despite Lycoris' young age and occasional endearingly childish habits, Newt knew better than to underestimate him. It wasn't often Lycoris revealed his darker and more dangerous side during the course of their short friendship but he remembered every one. Like a proud and dangerous creature, Lycoris had the habit of testing Newt's worthiness and so far Newt had yet to fail, thankfully. His experience with hippogriffs and the encounters with the creatures in the Forbidden Forest made him entirely aware of what would happen if he did.
And Newt found that he didn't want to disappoint the younger boy at all.
"Not in the slightest." Newt replied calmly, continuing to sketch the magnificent creatures in front of him. And if he included the boy-child that was in their midst, appearing as if he was their human form taken shape, no one had to know.
Both boys spent the next hour in companionable silence with the thestrals before they headed back up to the castle.
Lycoris dropped Newt off outside the Hufflepuff common rooms with a surprisingly sweet smile that lacked the usual lazy arrogance and shadow of indifference.
"Pleasant dreams, Newt."
Newt was left once again gaping after the Slytherin, feeling surprised, pleased, and absolutely charmed.
Truly, he did not know what to make of the enigma known as Lycoris Black. But he didn't think the boy would ever fail to captivate anyone in his web, and Newt was wholly and utterly entangled.
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As Lycoris slid under his silk sheets, he thought back to the events of just an hour ago.
In all honesty, he had not meant to reveal so much but All Hallow's Eve had always had a way of not only causing him to be itching to exercise the darker, necromantic side of his magic but also be more reckless and abandoned, eager to use all that power he could feel humming in his veins and not about to hide any of it.
Idly, he scratched at the single spider lily marked on his right hip.
Nevertheless, he was pleased with Newt's reaction. While Newt might not know the true, necromantic nature of the ritual he performed at the crack of dawn, he was fairly perceptive and most likely picked up on its dark and illegal qualities. And yet, he had not flinched back in fear or shunned him the way most light wizards would.
Lycoris could admit to purposely unnerving Newt just to see a reaction but the Hufflepuff always managed to surprise him and exceed his expectations.
He supposed that if he were to have a friend, Newt wouldn't be a shabby choice. No, not shabby at all.
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"Now that we are all here, let us begin."
The first staff meeting of the term was preceded over by the Headmaster Dippet who seemed very eager to get it over with. Or at least move to the agenda of the day's meeting, as it was clear nothing particularly pressing happened during the first two months of school.
"Could the first year professors and Head of Houses remain behind please? I would like to discuss any issues our new batch of students may be having." Adjusting his spectacles, Headmaster Dippet shuffled his papers.
"We'll begin with the Gryffindors. Professor Simmons, if you please."
The Astronomy Professor and Head of Gryffindor House began his progress report on his Gryffindors. "My first years are adjusting as well as can be expected. There are some struggles with lateness from one of the first years who has not yet learned to navigate Hogwarts, however."
"I find that pairing my first year Hufflepuffs with an older student during the first week or two to be helpful." Professor March, the Herbology Professor and Head of Hufflepuff House, suggested next to him.
"Thank you Professor March. Any issues with your first years?"
"There have been a few cases of homesickness and adjusting, of course, but by now all of my badgers are doing well." The amiable looking old witch smiled.
"Very well. And Professor Merrythought, how goes your ravens?"
"As well as can be expected. No issues with the school work or any cases of ill adjustment. However, I am worried about one of them who has not been making efforts to socialize with her peers."
"Ah. Mina Tsukiyama, am I correct? While I've found Ravenclaws to be rather introverted, in this case perhaps it's less about an issue of not wanting to socialize but simply because she is self-conscious of her English?" Professor Dumbledore spoke up.
"In that case, perhaps a tutor in English conversation with an older student?" Professor March suggested.
"That is a thought, thank you Professor Dumbledore and Professor March." Professor Merrythought nodded her head gratefully.
"And Professor Prewett, the Slytherins?"
"No issues in homesickness or adjusting. However, one of my snakes has complained to me about the ease of the school curriculum." The Potions Professor and Head of Slytherin House replied in amusement.
"Oh! Lycoris Black, correct? I've noticed that he has always completed his spellcasting on the first try and spends the rest of the period working on his homework or doing additional reading." Professor Hall, the young Charms Professor, enthusiastically inserted. "Why, I saw one of the covers and it was a sixth year text on Charms theory!"
The other professors murmured in agreement.
"Young Mr. Black proves to be even more talented than his older brother. It's not an overstatement to say that he could take his OWLs now and pass with flying colors." Professor Prewett added proudly.
"I fear that it would be unwise to let Mr. Black skip too many years no matter how ahead in the curriculum." Professor Dumbledore spoke up delicately.
"I agree with Professor Dumbledore. Part of attending Hogwarts is to develop lasting friendships and have fun. It would be a pity if Mr. Black has to leave behind his yearmates and friends." Professor Simmons agreed.
"While that may be true, it would not do to stifle the boy's genius by forcing him to slow his pace down for others." Professor Prewett frowned.
"Besides, I've noticed that Mr. Black has struck up a most unexpected friendship with one of my Hufflepuff third years, Newt Scamander. He would hardly be giving up friendship for academics." Professor March said thoughtfully.
At that, all the professors exchanged surprised glances and raised eyebrows.
"A Slytherin and a Black. Friends with a Hufflepuff?" Professor Simmons exclaimed in disbelief.
"Newt Scamander. The boy that was caught smuggling one of Professor Kettleburn's creatures into his dorm room?" Professor Prewett furrowed his brow.
"I think we have gone off topic. On the issue of Lycoris Black, I am in favor of him moving up with the third years. He can take the necessary assessments over winter break and begin afresh with the third years next term. The fact of the matter is that he is simply too idle in my class." Professor Merrythought interrupted.
"Yes, a combination of boredom and magical genius can be a dangerous one." Professor Dumbledore reluctantly admitted.
"And with him following the third year curriculum, though still too simple, he would be able to take electives. More classes might provide enough of a challenge." Professor Prewett finished in satisfaction.
"Well then, now that that's been settled. Any more issues remaining? No? Meeting adjourned!"