Hi everyone! Sorry about that long delay, and thanks for all the support, faves, and follows. I'm not going to be making any promises about future chapters, other than that I do intend to at least catch up to where the original fic is. Anyways, enjoy and have a happy Thanksgiving to all my American followers.!

The next day, the departure from the Burrow proceeded calmly and without haste, unlike the previous year. They all boarded the unmarked but comfortable cars of the Ministry of Magic and arrived very quickly in London, near King's Cross station. They walked in a tidy order through the few meters of brick that separated them from Platform 9 ¾. Harry had to cross it under the surveillance of the taciturn aurors who had accompanied them.

The young wizard wondered for a moment if he shouldn't have told Mr. Dursley what he had learned, but in previous years at Hogwarts he had learned at least one thing: adult help was often inefficient or nonexistent at best, treacherous or hiding ulterior motives at worst, at least from his point of view. He had begun to doubt adults and to suspect hidden intentions in many of them. He suspected it had something to do with Edward's entry into his life: his friend was suspicious of, reluctant to confide in, and terribly independent of adults.

The group boarded the train: Ron and Hermione had to join the prefects' compartment, leaving it up to Edward and Harry to find one of their own among the carriages filled with last-minute fans who, of course, would not had not believed a word of the lies slotted by the Daily Prophet over the last year. The two boys glared at each other as they heard the chuckles and whispers behind the half-closed doors and sighed in unison as they searched for an empty compartment. They had to make their way through the crowded corridors of students who were just waiting for an opportunity to greet "the Chosen One" and Harry had to push Edward onward when he heard remarks about his height.

"Harry, Edward!" exclaimed Neville's familiar voice, "Come in quickly, I'm with Luna!"

Without being told twice, the two boys rushed into the compartment and closed the doors securely, ignoring the complaints that their disappearance caused. Quickly putting their trunks on the luggage rack, they collapsed with a sigh of relief, finally safe from the untimely remarks of other passengers. Luna and Neville had probably been protected from rumors by the reputation that surrounded them and so the compartment was almost empty, waiting for them. Ginny Weasley was quick to join them and sat down with an exasperated air: apparently she, too, did not like the chatter about their escapades at the Department of Mysteries, and she would certainly have accepted Edward's proposal to give them a good Bat Bogey Hex-ing. Unfortunately, they had to wait for Ron and Hermione to arrive before starting to talk about their secret project.

So they began to talk about things of no importance until they were interrupted by frantic whispers behind the door. It ended up opening on a seductive girl with her own posse of fifteen-year old girls, blushing and chattering like hens. The girl was too sure of herself to really make a good impression on the occupants of the compartment, especially Ginny Weasley who seemed to be trying to burn a hole in her skull with her eyes. The girl introduced herself as Romilda Vane and she suggested to Harry but also to Edward, to join them with a slightly condescending air towards Luna and Neville who waited calmly to see what happened. They didn't have to wait long:

"I'm already with my friends," Harry said in a frosty tone as he laid a warm hand on Neville's shoulder.

"And you're not welcome here if you're going to be rude to them." added Edward, glaring at her.

The girls, repelled by Edward's poisonous tone, blushed again but this time it was more from shame. Luna looked up from her diary and addressed Harry, staring at him behind the strange pair of glasses she was wearing:

"She thinks you should have cooler friends than us, but it's nice of you to think of us as your friends."

"Luna, you're a Ravenclaw, you're one of the smartest people I've ever known, and yet you didn't realize we're all friends here?" Edward asked.

Luna did not answer, but she hid her face in her magazine- but Edward had time to see her eyes shine as if she were crying tears of joy. Luckily, it was that moment that Ron and Hermione chose to enter the compartment with the news that Malfoy was not doing his prefect duties. Harry would have liked to know exactly what it was but the project was more important so he sat there, ready to explain the plan.

The goal was for all the occupants to become very competent wizards, able to fight against Voldemort or at least resist the Death Eaters that made up his following. For that, they would have to learn magic that surpassed the dark magic used by the servants of Voldemort and to succeed in the N.E.W.T. programs that could allow them to progress in learning this magic.

Harry already had some ideas about the magic they would have to learn: becoming Animagi was an important step that would allow them to fight, hide, or flee depending on which animal they would become. But since his lessons with Snape, Harry also had half a mind to teach Occlumency to the others and for that he would need the help of Edward who had a gift for Legilimency and had advised him in his methods to repel the attacks on his mind. Wandless magic could also be an option although he did not see anyone doing it. However, he strongly suspected Ed of knowing how to go about doing it and the Boy-Who-Lived was determined to convince his friend to reveal this secret.

Now all that was left was to split the roles: Hermione would help organize the special sessions they would have and develop a school support and study program so that all members could manage to follow the plan. Neville was the Herbology specialist and could possibly advise them on possible ingredients and provide them. Ron could handle the strategizing; Luna the knowledge-gathering and imagination. Ginny would energize the group, Edward would be the practical advisor and Harry would be the leader. All that was left was to find a name and everyone proposed ideas: the Clan of the Seven, or The VRA (Voldemort Resistance Army). It was finally Edward's hesitant proposal, the Circle, that was chosen. According to Edward's lessons last year, the circle was a central movement in combat, with no dead spots, plus it had a special little insider connotation that pleased Harry. In any case it was better than the invitation that was soon to arrive...

Soon, indeed, a blushing girl knocked on their compartment and announced that she had three invitations from Professor Slughorn addressed to Neville Longbottom, Edward Elric Flamel and Harry Potter. Neville seemed stunned to receive an invitation from a teacher and the two other young wizards, who already knew the collector's tendency of their future potion teacher, smothered a groan, or not, before heading to the indicated compartment. on the invitation. Along the way, through the whispers and the sound of rumors that surrounded them, they could not help but notice that Draco Malfoy's compartment was right next to Slughorn's. Harry saved this information for later while touching the invisibility cloak concealed in his pocket.

At least, Harry thought as he received a generous portion of cold pheasant, the meal looked better than the few treats they usually ate during the trip. You could say a lot of things about Slughorn but he had a good taste for food and Edward seemed to share this view because of the way he ate with gusto. On the other hand, the young Ravenclaw still showed his fake smile which he usually reserved for the moments when he was enjoying some private joke. Other than Neville, the other occupants of the compartment were unknown to him, although it was obvious that they were present because of their relationships with known wizarding figures. Some, like Mclaggen, had understood this very well and boasted of their relationship with the Minister of Magic, others like Neville or Belby would have preferred to meet in another place.

When it was Edward's turn, Harry realized that his turn would soon arrive and mentally prepared for the interrogation that was soon to follow. His friend was answering the questions he had already answered without too much protest, but the young Gryffindor could feel the annoyance under the apparent politeness. Then it was Harry's turn to manage to say as little as possible and make sure not to corroborate the news of the Daily Prophet. Neville and Edward, however, remained silent as graves on this subject, none of them revealing that there was not one but two prophecies implicated in the affair. However, Slughorn did not seem to be done with them but decided to show off by presenting his many connections to the small assembly.

Edward, who seemed to tire of these stories quickly, asked the potion teacher to take the time to get ready by putting on their wizard robes. As the afternoon was well advanced, Professor Slughorn agreed to have the whole group leave. Barely out, Harry stared at Zabini's back as he prepared to follow him, pulling his invisibility cloak from his pocket. But Edward seemed to have another idea. He motioned for Harry to follow him into an empty compartment separated by two or three more from the Slytherin's, and pulled out his Extendable Ears, which seemed to be always on him ever since he had bought them.

But when they tried to hear and listen, they only heard a sizzle indicating that the compartment door had a Muffliato charm applied. Harry swore, feeling that his last chance to know what Malfoy wanted to do had just disappeared. Edward stared at the window with an intense look, then he turned to Harry and asked with a big, almost disturbing smile:

"If I told you I was going to do something crazy, would you help me?"

A few minutes later, Edward clung to the open window of the Hogwarts Express, halfway out of the train while being careful not to fall. Harry grabbed his friend by his long sleeves to make sure he did not fall because of the gusty wind that threatened to bring down the young wizard. The latter was looking for a handhold to get on the roof while holding a pair of Extendable Ears. It was in this strange situation that Ron and Hermione found them as they looked for their compartment. Ron's eyes widened as the young Gryffindor beside him closed hers and repeated with conviction "I didn't see that, it's only a hallucination". But when she reopened them, she had to admit that it was real.

Edward, meanwhile ignored the interruption and had managed to climb atop the car and was carefully making his way down the cars. Looking in the windows from time to time, he finally reached what he supposed to be Malfoy and his companions' compartment. He discreetly used alchemy and created a hole in the roof while trying to cover the small sparks of his transmutation. Then he slid the Extendable Ear in and fired a light shot to warn Harry that he could start listening with his own end. He himself was content to listen to what Draco said with his own ears.

The beginning of the conversation was not very exciting: Zabini described what happened at the Slug Club, detailing everyone's actions and making unpleasant comments about each one. The discussion became more interesting when Draco said that next year he would probably be out of school. Edward could almost feel Ron and Hermione getting closer to Harry to listen better. The young Malfoy spoke with in his usual arrogant voice of a mission that the Dark Lord had personally entrusted to him, a job that would not require any degree. Unfortunately, Edward could already see in the distance the high towers of Hogwarts, a sign that the train would soon reach its destination. Besides, the Slytherins' conversation was interrupted and they started to get their trunks. Edward pulled the Ear out, quickly repaired the hole in the roof, and started back to the compartment he had been in.

He felt full of nostalgia, thinking back to the time Alphonse and he had fought terrorists on the train. It reminded him of so many good memories that he almost got caught on the wall when the train passed under a tunnel. Luckily his... slightly below average height, had saved him. He rushed back into the compartment where members of the Circle were sitting..

"You can't deny that was an interesting conversation." Ron said with a sigh as he donned his wizard's robe.

"Indeed, I wonder what he is preparing." Neville wondered, scratching his chin.

"It seems that Draco Malfoy's mind is infected with Nargle droppings, which is sad," Luna said as she moved her trunk.

"I wonder what is this oh-so-important mission?" Ginny Weasley wondered aloud.

"Am I the only one to think that what Edward just did was completely suicidal and crazy?" Hermione inquired as she stepped out of the compartment.

"I totally agree with you, Hermione, it was crazy."

"Edward Elric, you're the one who did that!" Hermione exclaimed as she exited the train car.

"It was really crazy but great anyway." Ron said, lowering Hermione's trunk, who thanked him heartily.

"And it was well worth it." Harry added as he went down.

"I do not feel like it, it gave me the impression he might be exaggerating with all that bragging..." said the girl in a tone unconvinced.

"If he has received a mission from Voldemort personally, it's no wonder he's boasting about it, especially since he may need allies for this mission. Telling his allies could help him. " Ed said as he climbed aboard the stagecoach after petting the Thestral.

All members of the Circle could see these strange horses since their passage in the Hall of Death, after seeing the veil...

"If he needs allies, I think he'll stick to Crabbe and Goyle, I do not think he'd like to share the glory of his job with anyone who's smarter than him, like Zabini. " Harry stated as he sat down in the cab.

"Or he must accomplish his mission alone." Added Luna thoughtfully.

"It's possible..." Edward whispered without seeming to notice the delighted face on his fellow Ravenclaw.

"But we still do not know what this mission is." Hermione remarked in a sensible tone.

"I'm sure we'll learn more throughout the year." Ron said as the stagecoaches set out for the illuminated Hogwarts castle.

For a few minutes, Professor Snape and Albus Dumbledore watched from the second floor of the Headmaster's Tower as the prefects arrived one after the other as the boats filled with first-year students prepared to cross the lake, guided by Hagrid, the Master of the Keys. Severus Snape said, with his usual dry tone:

"Apparently, everything is in order, no one is missing, including your protege."

"All right, Severus, the time everyone's here, we can chat for a little while." Albus Dumbledore said without seeming to notice the slight acrimony in his interlocutor's voice.

"Apparently, the Dark Lord thinks that, whether prophecy or not, the ultimate success of his takeover comes from the murder at his own hand of Potter, and he gave instructions that no one but himself would hurt or kill the boy." explained the Potions Master, his gaze staring intently at a group of seven, including Harry Potter, out of a diligence.

"Did he give any indication of the second prophecy of the Mystery Department?"

"We only have one part out of three. Voldemort has the other, and Merlin knows who has the third..." the Headmaster murmured, affectionately watching. the same small group enter the Castle.

"The Dark Lord seems intrigued by this prophecy and he seems to think that it may allow him to gain infinite power, but unfortunately he has not shared it with anyone except Rookwood, but it seems very paradoxical, according to the Dark Lord's own words He stays locked up for hours with Rookwood, arguing over something, the only name I've come to grasp is Rupescissa's. "

"Rupescissa?" The manager said anxiously, "I only heard that name once in the mouth of my mentor, Nicolas Flamel, a former Ravenclaw turned to the Dark Arts, and he was the first and last true disciple of Nicolas' alchemy. He died at the time when the Philosopher's Stone was invented. I would never have thought that Voldemort would continue to be interested in alchemy."

"Maybe he found another trail in this book that he stole from the Ministry." Suggested the potion teacher. "Or they might think there is a connection between this manuscript and this strange prophecy ... The Unspeakables still remain silent on this?"

"As the grave." Professor Dumbledore sighed as he left his desk and invited his colleague to follow him, "But this book may well be from de Roquetaillade, and in that case alchemy might be the key to the prophecy. Unfortunately, Nicolas died last year with his wife. "

"But he still has a spiritual heir." Replied Snape with a heavy hint of innuendo as he walked down the steps of the Hall, ready to join the teachers' table. "Edward Elric-Flamel, maybe Flamel gave him some knowledge of alchemy."

"Their meeting lasted less than two hours, it is impossible for a person as brilliant as this dear Edward to learn to master the chemistry in such a short period of time, but he may have entrusted him with a secret code without his knowledge and in this case, I see only one way ... Have you thought back to my proposal?"

"In previous years, there were too many fools and the only gifted ones were not motivated enough." Snape mumbled, glaring at the late-comers of the higher years who hastened to sit at their respective tables.

"I hope this year your young pupils will be willing and good enough for that." Dumbledore said, a happy glow in his eyes as he stared at Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Edward Elric at their Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables.

"If you say so," Snape said skeptically before adding, "do not forget to hide your hand at least a little, just to avoid alerting the most emotional souls."

"I do not know what I would do without you, Severus," Albus Dumbledore said earnestly before sitting on his majestic armchair, ready to greet the newcomers to Hogwarts.

At the Ravenclaw table, Edward had managed to sit at the end of the table with only Luna next to him. Curiously, a large number of girls of all ages insisted that the young Ravenclaw be seated next to her, but the boy had just ignored them and was now staring at the Gryffindor table and Harry in particular. Both knew that Dumbledore's true speech would only come at the end of the meal, but they were both eager to see the result of their little "forgetfulness" about the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

This did not stop them from feasting when the banquet began. Edward devoured the contents of his plate with delight, enjoying an apple pie that was not as good as Winry's or Gracia's, but excellent anyway. Finally, when he had eaten to satiety, he relaxed, ready to hear the headmaster's speech about the usual prohibitions on the Forbidden Forest and the curfew (which he did not intend to respect anyway). There were also warnings about the castle's protections that had been increased as well as more frequent monitoring of the corridors. Then, finally, he arrived at the long awaited moment ...

"Finally, I am pleased to announce that you will have a new teacher this year. I introduce to you Horace Slughorn, a former colleague who has agreed to take up the post of Potions Master."

The exclamations that followed were soon suffocated by Dumbledore's voice, which resumed with a gleam, almost like laughing, in his eyes:

"For the youngest among you, I introduce to you Professor Snape, already well known to the alumni and who will this year be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts."

The cries went on again, it was warm applause at the Slytherin table, but half-horrified cries of amazement from the other tables. Nevertheless, listening well, we could hear Harry laughing with a smile, very amused at the disappointment of his friends. A scream of pain followed soon after: the young wizard had received two well-deserved smacks from his table neighbors, Ron and Hermione, who had hardly appreciated their friend's joke. They were also staring Edward furiously, especially Ron, who had absolutely no potion classes because he thought he did not have the required points.

Nevertheless, the redhead only had time to make a rude sign to Edward (one that was always hilarious, but certainly in this case it would have been worth having his fingers stuck together by his mother). Already, the prefects were called to do their duty and they began to escort their comrades to their respective common rooms. Edward immediately followed the crowd of Ravenclaws towards the tower housing their common room. The eagle's enigma: "A box without hinges, key, or lid,/Yet golden treasure inside is hid" was easily solved by a Muggleborn who had read Tolkien's Hobbit. As Edward was about to go to bed right away, Professor Flitwick, the professor at the head of Ravenclaw's house, invited the sixth years to wait until the time he gives them scrolls with news about their schedule. Ed looked at him distractedly before jumping almost hard enough to surpass his classmates' heights and shouted a "what ?!" almost disproportionate to his size.

Sixth Years:

Optional Alchemy courses are proposed to be offered to all years, on the condition that there is adequate interest and registration among students.

Mandatory requirements to register for these experimental courses: An E is required in the following four subjects: Potions, Transfiguration, Botany, and Charms. An Arithmancy course, Muggle Studies, and Astronomy is also recommended without being mandatory.

Qualities required: rigor, organization, will, intelligence.

Classes will be given once a fortnight by Professor Snape.

The next morning, in the corridors of the castle, one could see many sixth-year students from all the houses talking to each other while holding a parchment in their hands. Many were in a feverish mood and that was also the case for Harry, Ron, Hermione and even Neville who were staring at the same pages. They only looked up when Edward approached them with an air of excitement in their eyes.

"I see that everyone else heard the news." said Edward.

"I knew that this subject could appear on the program if there were enough requests, I had asked Professor McGonagall in the first year, it is imperative that more than ten people attend this course otherwise everything is cancelled!" Hermione exclaimed forcefully.

"Darn. You'll have to count me out." sighed Neville, "I only have an A in Transfiguration and Potions."

"I could," Ron mumbled snarlingly, "but it's out of the question for me to spend more time with Snape than I need to, and you two, I have not forgiven you yet. I can't believe you didn't tell us he was going to be the Defence teacher! Especially you, Harry, my very own best friend. Now I can't even take any potions classes anyway."

"Listen," Harry said calmly, "I'm going to give you mine and I'll deal with Slughorn: he likes me and I could always say I did not think I was qualified enough for his class ..."

"Oh Harry, you're like a brother to me, finally!" Ron exclaimed, finally exhilarated, "Er, otherwise, are you going to do it, taking alchemy with the dungeon bat?"

"Now that we can tolerate each other in the same room, maybe I have the necessary prerequisites, and last year, when Edward was giving his summer classes, I was pretty good at following..."

"I'll be there, that's for sure," Hermione said, "Alchemy seems to be a fascinating subject."

"I suppose you'll be there, Edward?" Harry asked with a slight smile.

"I already signed up with three or four Ravenclaws, including Anthony Goldstein, there were already the names of Nott and Zabini on the registration form, and Susan Bones seemed very hesitant, I think there will be quite a few," Edward said, crossing his fingers.

"Mr. Elric, I suggest you go back to your table to see your schedule while I'm taking care of your classmates - by the way, congratulations on your outstanding grades."

Edward hastened to join his head of house, who looked at him with pride, considering the number of OWLS he had obtained when he was only in his first year last year. Edward, out of breath, bowed to Flitwick, showing his results to his delighted professor, who shouted aloud:

"You did well, Mr Elric. Your scores are quite splendid; what classes are you going to take for your NEWTS?"

"Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Astronomy. I'm also going to take Alchemy." declared the young Ravenclaw seriously.

"That is a schedule that will not leave you a lot of free time, I'm afraid ..." Flitwick said, winking at Edward's schedule, "but with your determination, I'm sure you will be able to handle them. Your Ancient Runes course starts in five minutes."

Edward immediately got up, put a few pancakes in a napkin, and hastened to follow Hermione to their Ancient Runes class. On the way, they began to discuss their respective topics:

"I'm pretty much taking all my old stuff, too," Hermione said after taking a quick look at Ed's schedule while he stuffed his mouth full of pancakes. "Harry and Ron will probably take the same: Defense against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, and Potions, but Ron isn't going to take Alchemy, I'm afraid- that would give him too much extra work."

"At the same time, given our plans for this year, we'll have a lot to do, and maybe it's good not to be burdened with too much stuff..." Ed calmed the Gryffindor, leaning against the wall and waiting for the beginning of the class.

This was the last moment of calm as many of the other students began to realize the amount of work that they would have to do to pass their NEWTS. Edward and Hermione were sitting side by side and he could see that even she sometimes had trouble with some runic phrases, but she probably would not have anything to do despite her increasing anxiety. The professor gave them a ton of homework that would occupy the remains of free time that the two geniuses of Hogwarts had in their schedules. They joined Harry and Ron comfortably against the wall: they had not had to work like dogs for an hour...

Finally, Professor Snape arrived and calm was miraculously restored in the hallway. Each student silently entered the room where one could feel a dark and almost unhealthy impression: a perfect representation of the forces of evil and black magic. The signs on the walls seemed to evoke examples of victims of evil creatures or terrifying curses. In short, it did not really make you want to turn to this dark aspect of magic. Some of the students shuddered at the sinister atmosphere, but Harry and Edward barely flinched: everyone had seen much worse in their short lives.

Professor Snape then stood behind his desk and began by ordering the students to put away their books. Then he began his speech by insulting the previous teachers by being surprised that so many students were able to get the necessary OWL to take the course. He may not know it, but Harry and Edward were the main reason for this success through their defense courses. But at that moment, Snape's speech became more bewitching as he evoked the forces of evil as a monster with multiple heads, cruelty and limitless cunning. Snape's strangely caressing tone radically contrasted with the terrifying description he made, showing the stubbornly evil side of the Dark Arts. For the first time, Harry understood why his teacher was taking that tone, as if to show the power of attraction of what they were going to fight.

He then described the most brutal possibilities while making them understand that their defenses should be as flexible as the forces of their opponents. For that, Harry was perfectly in agreement: by the way, did not Edward just prepare them for that when he had forced them to adapt to all kinds of situations?

Then the real lesson began: Professor Snape wanted to teach them the use of unofficial spells and began by asking the question of the benefits of the unformulated. Nobody raised a hand, not even Edward, who had never really liked to answer that kind of question seriously and who preferred to let Hermione take a snide remark from Snape. Of course, she methodically quoted the book, a correct answer that drew the sarcasm of the teacher. He added that it was a question of mental strength and concentration and after that, he cast a thoughtful look at Edward and Harry.

Immediately, he ordered the class to split into a team of two while insisting on composing the teams themselves. This was how Ron found himself with Neville, Hermione with Parvati and Harry found himself facing Edward. The two boys looked to be a mixed bag- they knew they were not together by chance since Snape knew, despite his acrimony towards Harry, that Harry would do better when he was placed with Ed. The pairs of wizards flipped a coin to know who the striker was, Edward won and attacked immediately, and Harry could see several things: first, Edward was more talented and quicker when it came to casting spells instead of pronouncing formulas , Edward as an attacker was more formidable than ever since this summer. Third, he was obviously focused on the idea of teaching him the information in his own way since he had thrown a silencing charm. Harry could not talk anymore now and he had to try everything to cast a spell on Ed, who was staring at him, mockingly.

It was obviously at that moment that Snape interfered: having watched the little duel with a concentrated air, he decided to cast a vicious spell on Harry. The latter reacts instinctively: he instantly thought Protego and to his surprise, the spell worked, succeeding in repelling the spell of Professor Snape who seemed rather satisfied with himself.

"It seems that a silencing scharm and a couple of spells is a pretty good technique on you, Potter. Maybe I should extend it to all the class ... For that little feat and that great idea, I give a point to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw."

It was unclear whether the class was more shaky about being subjected to silencer charms followed by an avalanche of hexes of any kind or whether they were shocked about Snape giving a point to any House other than his own.. When they left the classroom, Harry glanced half furiously, half friendly towards Edward who was walking without seeming to pay any attention, at least, until he turned around and said:

"What?! It worked, didn't it? You were trying too hard, what you need to practice is reacting instinctively, in a free and relaxed way, as if you were reading this spell in a book and trying to reproduce it. Instinct is your greatest strength and you can amaze everybody!"

"And since when did you become so fast, when before you were slow at casting spells?"

"I'm slow as a turtle when I have to learn spells: I have to dissect them to understand how they work, to know why they work this way and to learn how to replicate that effect with my wand, as I understand it! once I practice them often enough, this understanding becomes instinctive and the formula always slows me down because I do not see any great information I've gained is very helpful because it confirms my theory on the uselessness of the formula in my way of learning! "

Seeing that Edward was immersed in his usual reflections on how magic worked, he turned away from Ed and started talking with Ron and Hermione about the class. Hermione seemed to think that Snape had the same approach as Harry for the Dark Arts and the young wizard did not know whether he should be flattered by the comparison or embarrassed.

His relationship with Snape was still strange since he had talked to Edward and especially since that time when he had visited his Pensieve: Now, Harry knew that his father, in his teenage years, had not been better than someone like Dudley who tyrannized the others when he was stronger and his teacher did not deserve to be so humiliated. Snape, on the other hand, seemed to be curbing his sardonic remarks towards him and treating him more equitably. And somehow the Boy-Who-Lived was convinced he had to thank Edward for it.

Suddenly, he saw Sloper, who, besides discussing quidditch, also came to bring him the invitation to Dumbledore's first class. The latter would take place next week.

Translator's Notes: Rupescissa, in the original text, is another name for Jean de Roquetaillade, a 14th century French alchemist. The riddle for the Ravenclaws is the same one from the French version of The Hobbit.