Felix skipped breakfast, preferring to head over directly to the History of Magic Classroom. Outside fall was quickly unfolding, leaves turning yellow and brown as slowly nature went into its annual slumber under the falling temperatures and rain was a daily constant.
"But an item's an item, even in this wizarding world…how can it not be? It's either solid or not?" Felix mumbled under his breath almost oblivious to the outside world navigating the corridors on almost auto-pilot, crisscrossing other students and arched entryways to his destination.
"If something is, is…no? How can something exist without existing? Am I overthinking this? Not thinking it enough? And Socrates found the perfect moment to get ill….a week's worth of delay", he entered the classroom sitting between Uriel and Socrates behind Ethel and Emerick with Claudia sitting a couple of rows to their left. Socrates had returned to classes for the first day in over a week, still sneezing and coughing. "It is only a cold, I'll get by it on my own", he had told the Nurse who had given him an exception from classes.
Felix was as of yet unconvinced Socrates hadn't done it on purpose to have him find the answer to their six-year long question on his own, despite his friend's assurances to the opposite.
"Okay, spill it. I'm locked in an endless loop I can't get out from", he told his friend as Professor Binns begun his droning on revising them the Giant and Goblin wars.
"You are lucky I want to give you the answer and not lord it over you", Socrates replied, improving on his sarcastic quips.
"Luck?" Felix snorted.
"An item that is not an item. Obvious the answer is, if you contemplate on a piece of information from a vision you had at the end of your fourth year and unlock your mind with a thought of transfiguration", Socrates, it was obvious, thought they should now realise the answer.
Felix, Uriel and the others nearby looked at him weird with blank stares.
"An, blank stare my old friend. Allow me to elaborate", Socrates brought his hands together on the desk, thumbs and index fingers touching to form a triangle.
"Yes, please do", Uriel tried not to chuckle.
"You were told this phrase twice, the second time by Lethargos in a vision. Did he speak in Hellenic or English? If you remember?" Socrates asked Felix.
"English I think, why?"
"Ah, sneaky old wizard he is. In Hellenic the word for "item" is the same as for "object"!" Socrates exclaimed betraying his excitement as if the answer should now be even more evident to everyone, which it wasn't for anyone but him.
Socrates sighed, "I see", he picked up an apple from inside his backpack and took a bite chewing and swallowing the chunk. He then tried to transform the apple into a field mouse only to cause an apple with whiskers and a tail. "Ah, transfiguration, only worse are curses-, charms and wand work…where's potions when you need them! But alas…" he whined.
Felix chuckled at the mistransfigured mouse. "Had you not taken a bite from it changing its weight you'd have succeeded. Reparifarge", the apple took its prior form.
"Ah, I knew that. My point is it was an apple and then it was something different."
Still his friends' faces lay empty of recognition. "Well, only one thing left to do, then", he raised his voice. "Professor Binns, may I ask you a question, please?"
Professor Binns swiveled around surprised out of a few decades of ghostly existence. A student actually wanted to ask him a question willingly. "Y-yes?"
"Did the entities known as the Old Gods leave behind any items, sir?" Socrates asked him receiving more weird glances from the rest of the students in the classroom.
"Ah, you were not here during out first year, Mr. Aetomaxos. The Old Gods, if they existed, left behind no items. Only spells", Professor Binns replied and turned back in an instant to his lecture on the revision of the Giant wars.
Socrates lowered his voice back down to an audible whisper. "An item that is not an item, an object that is not an object. A spell that looks, behaves, smells and tastes like a solid object, but isn't one, or two, or three…or four", he told them with no small amount of triumph in his hushed voice.
"It's a spell? They are all spells? Why wouldn't finite incantatem work on them?" Felix asked skeptical.
"Finite does not work on everything and we're talking about some very very old and very powerful spells that nor we nor anyone else fully comprehend yet. If we ever will. To quote Muggle weaponry, it's as if you are proposing we stop a battleship with a single nine caliber bullet", Socrates answered Felix's disbelief.
"A what with what?" Uriel asked confused.
"Nevermind, I got it", Felix said, Emerick too had understood coming from a muggle family.
"So, what does this mean? They're spells not objects…why's that important that Lethargos would tell you?" Emerick whispered.
"And Professor Ixion before him, and I don't know…sir?" Felix raised his voice.
Professor Binns looked fully flabbergasted now for in one single lesson not one but two students were willingly asking him questions instead of sleeping it off. "Yes, Mr. Burton?"
"The Old Gods, they created spells, but in our very first History of Magic class in year one both you and the book mentioned items, yet now you tell us spells. Which one's correct, sir?"
"The book says items, I must recite the book's facts even if mine disagree with it" Professor Binns replied with a tone of voice he had not spoken with for decades.
"Sir, last year when Azrail's forces attacked the school, Bloodfang interrogated you…you told him "not of", what was the question, sir?" Uriel added his question to Socrates and Felix's and if reincarnation was possible, surely, Professor Binns would have jumped a few.
"He wanted to know about the book of changes…"
"It is not the Book of Changes…it is the Book that Changes! Place the Book of Leaves inside the Shadeglass and you get the Book that Changes" Felix interrupted him excited.
"You are partially correct, Mr. Burton. But not if you place the Book inside the Shadeglass, then you get only liquid understanding. I never managed to find out how, but somehow the three items can be combined", Professor Binns corrected him.
"Why? How? Do you know where the Spring of Eternity is?" Felix fired question after question but Professor Binns turned his back on them.
"No, enough time spent on legends and not facts. Back to my lesson."
"Sharp, something stopped his research into the Old Gods", Socrates whispered.
"Or someone…" Felix nodded whispering back.
"Azrail?" Emerick asked with enough tense excitement to rocket his way out of the classroom.
"No, Azrail couldn't generate such intense negative emotions…no, I have a theory I need to research. Something Socrates said the other day", Felix shook his head.
"I do make an impact, the highlight of my day!" Socrates exclaimed beaming.
"Your sarcasm is coming along nicely, I see", Uriel sniggered.
"Damn", Socrates sank back down in his chair.
"He was actually paying me a compliment, in his own unique way", Felix grinned seeing the look of utter confusion in Uriel's face.
"Much to learn I have, and the souls and ways of humans largely elude me."
Claudia acting on impulse stood up from her chair, came over to their row of desks and grabbing hold of Socrates from his collar she started to French Kiss him with passion. Some of the other students whistled and cheered.
"Lesson one, know when not to speak, sometimes the silence does the speaking for you, in volumes", she told them sitting back at her desk.
"Food for thought!" Socrates blushed a faint crimson hue at the public display of such affection. Claudia and pretty much everyone rolled their eyes.
After the end of class Felix made a beeline for the Library, this time to study not a school subject or do homework but to see what he could dig up on Professor Binns' past. So, with time fleeting by fast, Felix buried himself in Hogwarts' archives searching through dusty, moldy old tones, beyond the medieval calligraphy of the early years and the typography of twentieth century all the way to the auto-quill of twentieth second century and yet he found not what he was looking for.
"Nothing…nothing other than he lived, he taught, he died…and much to every student's dismay since he continued to teach", Felix sniggered at his own joke. "Well, perhaps Professors will know where the archives fail", Felix stood up and walked out of the Library. Socrates saw him exit and abandoning his Charms homework he followed Felix.
"Whatcha doin'?" Felix skipped a step looking at Socrates incredulously.
"I see Claudia's teachin' ya some wee stuff aye?" Felix teased him resuming his stride.
"You have nooo idea…" Socrates replied with a goofy grin.
"Now, I most certainly do not want to know", Felix wagged his index finger at Socrates.
"Are you sure? Claudia says words are not…" Felix gave Socrates' shoulder a rough squeeze no longer joking around.
"Unless you want me to recount to you in vivid and absolutely accurate detail everything me and your sister did during the summer I strongly urge you to change the subject faster than a diving peregrine falcon, yes?"
"Where are you going?" Socrates did as requested.
"Inquire a Professor or two about Mr. Binns' past."
"Interesting, I think I'll come with you."
They walked outside to the grounds and the Care of Magical Creatures enclosure in almost silence.
"Ma'am", Felix addressed Professor Nightingale. "If I could ask you a question…about another Professor?"
"If I can answer it without breaching school ethics or their right to their privacy", she replied looking up from cleaning around behind some logs used as seats.
"Professor Binns…he used to research the Old Gods, I don't know when or how but someone or something made him stop, I was wondering if you knew anything, ma'am?"
"I'm afraid I don't know much about our only ghost Professor, but he's not mentioned anything about it while in the staff room, not that he talks much to begin with, always stares at the fire."
"I see, thank you ma'am" They left the enclosure, trying to find Professor Jordan who was otherwise indisposed of and couldn't talk to them, Professor Marvey laughed throwing them out of her office.
"As expected", Socrates nodded.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Burton, I'm afraid I don't know anything about Professor Binns' past", Professor Hudson told them hesitantly, uncertain of his intentions. "I wish I could be of more help to you."
"Thank you, sir", Felix replied with a smile and a nod exiting the Transfiguration classroom.
"I am not sure I understand your strategy regarding Professor Hudson, my friend", Socrates told Felix, glancing at him for a reaction.
"You are missing information, that's why. I'll tell you all about it in time. For now, let us see if we can't find the Headmistress."
"And when will you tell us? You have kept us out of this one."
"In the fullness of time. I see a path and I must follow it, sometimes I can include you, all, sometimes not."
They found Professor Horsewood about to enter her office.
"Ma'am!" Felix cried to grab her attention before she entered the gargoyle-guarded stairs.
"Felix? Something wrong?" She asked worried, her eyes slanting ready to react to bad news.
Felix shook his hands a few times in front of his chest to assuage Professor Horsewood. "Oh, no ma'am, nothing's wrong. Just got you a question, if you have a minute?"
Professor Horsewood features softened. "You may ask."
"Why did Professor Binns stop his research into the Old Gods? He had reached far further than we have, what or who stopped him, if you know, ma'am?"
She stood there gazing into his eyes for an awkward-for-him moment. "I am afraid I do not know, Felix. Have you tried the ghosts? They are the only ones who know Professor Binns the longest."
"Thank you, ma'am", he and Socrates stood there while Headmistress Horsewood entered her office, the gargoyle closing behind her.
"I don't think the other Professors will know anything either", Socrates said with Felix nodding. They walked through the castle trying to find one of the ghosts, the fat friar wasn't in the Hufflepuff common room, nor was the grey lady in the Ravenclaw common room as they prefer, nearly headless Nick wasn't near the Gryffindor common room entrance and the Bloody Baron was nowhere to be found in the dungeons. Even Peeves was difficult to track down, and he told them nothing, but caused them grief unleashing ectoplasm-fused dungbombs at them.
Thankfully Socrates knew of a potion which removed the stench from their clothes and hair.
"Come to think of it, other than Peeves and Professor Binns, no one's really seen the other ghosts in ages", Felix came to a pause outside the Astronomy tower's base, near the clockwork courtyard.
"Kate! Wait up", Felix saw a third year Hufflepuff walking through the courtyard's cloister arches. "Have you seen the Fat friar anywhere? Got something I've to ask him."
"Oh, hey Felix. No, I've not seen him for like two to three years, sorry", she replied before continuing her walk.
"Why not drink the potion you used to speak to Azrail?" Socrates asked.
"Travel the Crossroads again? Not sure that'd be wise. Besides what would I even look for?"
"Non-existence."
"I don't think I am meant…that anyone is meant to cross some paths in there."
"You seem to have forgotten one person in all of this, my friend."
"Professor Ixion!" Felix exclaimed, seeing the centauress ascending the stairs of the Astronomy tower.
"I do not know of what you search for, Mr. Burton. Beings of non-existence see things we do not, they are afraid of what your brother has been trying to accomplish. What, potentially, you are trying to achieve."
"Huh? What is my brother trying to accomplish? Do you know?"
"You know your brother better than you allow yourself to understand. Why do you seek answers to questions you have already answered?" She continued climbing the stairs to her classroom.
"Wh-what?" Felix felt his head hurt from trying to understand what Professor Ixion meant. Perplexion was drawn on his face.
"My friend, you have asked every one of his past but him."
"You want me to ask Azrail of his past?" Felix turned his head to Socrates.
"No, not Azrail. Professor Binns, it is his past you are researching, and he is a ghost."
"Oh right….right!" Felix cried facepalming his forehead as if that was something that he should have thought from the beginning on his own.
Socrates gave off a very smug smile.
"Do you ever get tired of being right?" Felix teased him.
"No."
"Ever get tired everything?"
"Not everything, and no", Felix laughed.
"I don't understand why it is important though, A spell instead of an item? Its nature might be different than what we thought, but it doesn't change why Azrail wants it or that we don't know why."
"After Charon's Path I'd think your Perception to be more evolved. It is imperative we understand the nature of things, material or otherwise, it is why humanity came out of the muck and begun to explore its surroundings. On a less philosophical level, you begun this journey when Azrail murdered your cousin, Charles. You began this quest to understand Azrail, yourself and your grief and these Old Gods "items", their past, their essence and how and why they do what they do. Isn't this at the very core of your search? They are spells, not items or objects that've been enchanted or bewitched. They are spells and now that you…we know they are we can better understand them and hopefully that'll lead us to find out what connects them. Also, why should this search be confined to Azrail anymore? Have you thought this information might not be related to Azrail but to you? The Old Gods spells existed before Azrail and they will exist after him and somehow Achronia's Prophesy wants to indicate you are bound to them in a way Azrail never will."
"You said that in one breath! And yea, I guess you are right. So, spells that can be combined…that sneaky little…is this why he's teaching me multicasting? Does he know more than he's telling me, again?" Socrates wasn't sure Felix was talking to him or himself anymore.
"Where are we going now?"
"Professor Binns' office, you are correct, it is his past so I'm going to ask him why he stopped."
"And why is it important? What prompted you to need an answer to this question?"
"Something you said."
Felix almost run to the lower east corridor by the school's entrance where History of Magic classroom and the Professor's office were.
Felix knocked on the door, providing Mr. Binns with yet another pleasant shock for the day.
"Y…yes? Who is it?"
"Sir, do you have a moment? I've some questions about your research into the Old Gods, and I have a feeling you have been waiting for quite a while for someone to ask you this", Felix stood at the door.
"What questions may they be?" Professor Binns asked him tentatively , wanting but not wanting to hope.
"How do they connect? They seem to be different spells performing different functions and yet I can't shake the feeling they connect for a larger purpose, beyond what Azrail wants them for perhaps?" Felix asked as Socrates closed the door behind them.
"Two hundred and thirty-five years to be exact, how long I've waited for someone to ask me that question, Mr. Burton. Even your brother did not ask me or realizes the true potential and nature of these spells left behind by the wizards and witches known to us only as "The Old Gods"", if ghosts could cry, Professor Binns would be crying, so emotionally charged was his voice.