Chapter Six "Mage Studies"
"How is Hermione going to get Sorted…? The Sorting Hat was destroyed…" Rin asked in amused tone.
"You might not know this, but the Sorting Hat is a one of Merlin's Noble Phantasm. The Sorting Hat exists just as long as Hogwarts continues to exist." Shirou explained. "It should be making a reappearance just about…"
"Dear Merlin, it would have been nice if you had warned me beforehand what you were going to do," a voice grumbled. The voice belonged to the Sorting Hat that rematerialized and floated back to the ground. "Is anyone going to pick me up? We have more students that need to be Sorted."
"How could we forget such an important moment in any Hogwarts' student life," said Dumbledore with a smile. He waved his hand and Sorting Hat flew into his hands. "Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore handed the Sorting Hat to McGonagall, "please continue with the Sorting."
"Of course, Headmaster," McGonagall replied as she received the Sorting Hat.
"Miss Granger please come with me I must talk to you," said Dumbledore as he gestured to Hermione and walked away to a corner of the room to privately talk with Hermione.
"It would be a pleasure to talk to you, Headmaster," Hermione nodded as she walked with Dumbledore with Fou in her hands.
"The next student is…." McGonagall announced the next student for Sorting.
Time quickly passed as the Sorting continued. More students were called upon, told which House they were in and welcomed by their new House that they would spent the rest of the Hogwarts years in. The last unsorted first year student with a surname starting with Z was finally sorted leaving Shirou and Rin the only one unsorted.
"Why are we not being Sorted?" Shirou asked in confusion.
"I don't know," Rin replied.
Shirou and Rin were surprised to find that Dumbledore had re-entered the great hall but Hermione was nowhere in sight. They didn't have time to think about Hermione because their attention was turned to Dumbledore, who loudly addressed the great hall.
"To all students and staff, I must announce that this year we have been blessed with a special opportunity that has never happened before. In collaboration with the Clock Tower, Hogwarts will be hosting a new class called Mage Studies." Dumbledore spoke in a loud voice.
"Well I think we got our answer," said Shirou. "We will be studying in Hogwarts, but not as students as Hogwarts. More like exchange students representing mages from the Clock Tower."
"Please welcome Professor Velvet to Hogwarts!" Dumbledore clapped.
If someone was playing attention and knowledgeable for what to look for they would notice how the wizards and witches reacted was a good representation of their attitude as a society about mages. Many didn't care, slightly annoyed or little afraid while they reluctantly clapped so they wouldn't be the one to be seen as the odd one out of the crowd. The minority clapped politely and only a few genuinely did to congratulate Waver.
Dumbledore stopped clapping and the rest of the hall soon followed as Waver stood up from his seat.
"I thank you for the honor of being welcomed to such a prestigious educational institute as Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft," said Waver. "My class like Muggle Studies will be a more elective class but it shall be held alongside a few students that I have brought to represent the Clock Tower."
"I think that is the reason why we haven't been Sorted," said Rin to Shirou. "We could be Clock Tower students/representative that learn in Waver's class alongside any Hogwarts students that might join us."
"I don't think so," Shirou shook his head.
"To represent the Clock Tower's equivalent to Hogwarts' First Years will be Rin Edelfelt and Shirou Emiya." Waver shouted as he pointed at Shirou's and Rin's direction.
"So," said Rin in victorious tone as she waved at the crowd looking at her. "I am always correct."
"This time you are," Shirou grudgingly accepted as he too waved at the crowd.
"I would love to introduce the other representatives from the Clock Tower that would equate to Hogwarts Second to Seventh Years but sadly they couldn't make it today," said Waver. "My class, Mage Studies, will provide insight into the educational curriculum of mages. I will be also offering supplementary study sessions for all would like to learn about mages but do not have the time to take Mage Studies as an elective. I thank you all and hope to see you at my classes."
Waver sat down and the great hall was soon engulfed with conversations. Most of the conversations of that of interest despite what attitude that they may hold about mages. It was after all one thing to read and hear about a topic through secondhand sources. There was always an air of mystery about mages despite their bad reputation so many wizards and witches discussed whether or not to take Mage Studies.
"So much innocence and ignorance," said Shirou as he heard the Hogwarts students, especially the younger ones, talking mages. "I still cannot believe the extent of the wizarding world has been so successful at painting us mages in such a negative light. It's as intense as the Cold War's war of ideologue pitting capitalism vs communism."
"It gets a whole bunch worse," said Rin. "Hogwarts has done quite a good job educating their students about mages from what I could see so far. The wizarding world in general don't see mages as humans or at worse equal to dark wizards. That was why during our time at Diagon Alley that I told you never to reveal your status as a mage."
"Given how badly mages are seen I wonder if this attempt by the Clock Tower to establish a better reputation would work." Shirou commented as he continued to listen to the young wizards and witches around him.
"The Clock Tower has tried countless times for decades to better the reputation of mages with varying success. The most successful have been wealthy and educated elite who have both hidden and open business deals with the Clock Tower. The next were scholars who are less likely to be blindly biased by stereotypes and propaganda." Rin replied. "So far, the Clock Tower's efforts with the regular wizard and witches have been a failure for the most part."
"Well I hope the Clock Tower is successful with this endeavor," said Shirou. "We mages deserve a better reputation."
"I think the Clock Tower might succeed with this attempt as Hogwarts represents the highest level of prestige amongst educational institutions in the wizarding world." Rin replied.
The conversations in the great hall quickly came to an end when Dumbledore cleared his throat and stood up.
"Welcome," said Dumbledore. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of two red-haired twins. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
As Dumbledore finished his speech and sat down, the tables of the great hall were soon filled with food that appeared out of nowhere. Food of every kind from all around the world. What was the most amazing was that from the reaction of the students that it was their favorite food that materialized in front of them.
"Why don't you sit down with us?" Waver called out to Shirou and Rin.
Shirou and Rin walked over to Waver and sat down. They found that it was not just Waver siting down on the table. There was also Gray there.
"Besides the obvious attempt to better the reputation of mages, what is the Clock Tower planning?" Rin asked as she stared at Waver.
"As much as the Clock Tower would love to have organized having a mage teach at Hogwarts, it wasn't the Clock Tower that made it possible. The Clock Tower would have had to give too much in exchange to either the British Ministry of Magic or Hogwarts' Board of Directors to allow a mage to teach at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was the one that came to us and made this possible." Waver replied.
"Okay let me rephrase my question," said Rin. "What is Dumbledore up to? You should have some idea as you are one of the Lords of the Mage's Association."
"Not really," said Waver with a shrug. "I have heard rumors that Dumbledore requested me as I am one of the Clock Tower's greatest teachers after meeting Zelretch. Dumbledore clearly changed as his neutral attitude towards mages drastically shifted to what you saw today after meeting Zelretch."
"Rin whatever is the case for Dumbledore's actions he doesn't seem the type to be planning anything nefarious. So, there is no need to worry." Shirou spoke as he patted Rin's shoulder.
"You really need to stop trusting people so easily," Rin sighed. "That was how EMIYA died. He was used and betrayed by others."
"That might have been the case if I was the same person before my time as a Chaldean Master." Shirou laughed. "I have met some of humanities greatest heroes and villains. So, I am not as easily tricked anymore. From what I have read and heard about Dumbledore, he is nearly flawless as a man of honesty and integrity."
"I can agree for the most part but have you researched Dumbledore's decisions and actions during war-time?" Rin asked.
"Yes. Some of his decisions and actions are questionable but as veterans ourselves we know that there are many times factors outside our control happen often. We can only make use of our best judgement during the moment and hope for the best." Shirou replied.
"Ummhmm… Are you going to eat?" Gray asked as she continued to eat.
"Yes. Even if you are going to continue you better eat before the food goes cold." Waver added as he ate slowly and elegantly like a proper gentleman.
Shirou and Rin nodded as they started to dig in. Their eyes lit up at how delicious the food was before they started to devour the food earnestly. Shirou thought heavily about the food as he was a food gourmet. He wanted to know what sort of ingredients and cooking techniques were used.
"Can you like to explain a bit of what you talked about? I understood a great part of it but I could have misinterpret since there were some contexts that I didn't know about." Waver asked.
The first thing Shirou decided was let Rin handle the situation. She was much more experienced in dealing with people and politics than he was. His specialty lay more in collecting intel and eliminating targets. Rin nodded her head as if she had read Shirou's mind.
"Since you're part of the highest authority, the 12 Lords of Clock Tower, there is no point hiding it from you when you could use authority and influence to get the information through other means," said Rin as she looked at Waver. "The missing context you didn't understand referred to our past lives."
"You remember your past lives?" Gray asked in astonishment as she stopped eating and stared at Shirou and Rin.
"Remembering your past life is rare but not unheard of, Gray," said Waver to his apprentice. "Many people often able to remember tidbits of their past lives but they often dismiss it as figments of their imaginations and forget about it. What is very special is to encounter people that able to remember much if not all of their past lives."
"What you said is right," Rin nodded in agreement. "Besides revealing that tidbit, what happened in our past life is something that we don't want to reveal."
"Understood," Waver nodded and turned to Shirou. "How are you adapting? I heard you didn't even know magic existed in this world until very recently."
"I did know magic existed," Shirou corrected Waver. "I have always known magic existed. What I didn't know was what kind of magical world awaited me."
"So, what do you think so far?" Waver asked as he drank some tea.
"It's interesting so far…" Shirou replied and he was about to continue when something launched itself at his face.
"Fou! Fou!" A very familiar voice to Shirou and Rin barked happily.
"Fou, what are you doing?!" Hermione shouted as she ran over and carefully pried Fou from Shirou's face. "Sorry, Shirou. I don't know why Fou did that."
"I know why Fou is interested in me," said Shirou as he looked at this world's version of the familiar companion that had traveled with him during his time as a Chaldean Master. "Fou is likely interested in me because of a marking that only his species would place on someone that could be trusted." He looked at Fou with a smile. "Isn't that right, Fou."
Fou happily nodded his head but internally he was very confused. What Fou detected from Shirou should be impossible. Unlike what Shirou had stated, there was no other member of Fou's species as Fou was a unique existence. The cute-looking animal didn't ever remember giving Shirou the spiritual mark of friendship.
I will explain later, Shirou telepathic responded to Fou as he noticed Fou's well-hidden confusion. "So where have you been all this time, Hermione?"
"I was talking to Fou here after Dumbledore had some talk with me," said Hermione as she affectionately rubbed Fou's head. "I only finished my talks and came back to find everyone was eating."
No one pressed Hermione about what Dumbledore had said to her. It was very obvious that given the reveal of Hermione's heritage and Merlin's appearance that whatever had been spoken with Dumbledore had been for her ears only. There would be no other reason why Dumbledore would have pulled Hermione aside and talked to her privately.
"Please sit down," Waver gestured at Hermione. "You might have not heard but I am Waver Velvet. As one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower I welcome you, Miss Granger. It is marvelous event for a descendant of both King Arthur and Merlin to be discovered."
"I appreciate the warm welcome," said Hermione as she sat down. She looked at Gray with fascination. "Are you by any chance another descendant of King Arthur or Merlin? I feel a deep sense of kinship with you."
"I don't think I bear any relationship with Merlin but I do descend from a clan that claims lineage from King Arthur and we are tasked with protecting Camelot." Gray replied.
"Camelot still exists?!" Shirou, Rin and Hermione shouted in disbelief.
Gray winced as her ears were ringing from the sound of three people standing right in her face and screaming. She glared at the three that had screamed at her in response.
"Camelot is still around. Although most people don't know about it of course. They are rumors about its existence but nothing to validity the rumors. The location of Camelot is a very well-guarded secret that few people outside of those living inside Camelot knows." Gray replied.
"Before you think that if you look through the historical records to find the location of Camelot, it has moved. Merlin relocated Camelot to a different location." Waver added. "I bet Fou there knows where Camelot is." He stared at Fou in Hermione's hands. "Don't you, Fou?"
Fou nodded his head.
"Can you tell me where Camelot is?" Hermione asked in very excited tone as she stared at the adorable Fou in her arms.
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