Chapter 47: One More Test
After Claire left Jacob, she Apparated back to her room in the Ravenclaw dormitory. Once she changed into her school robes, she went straight to the Potions Classroom where Merula was standing in her Slytherin robes. They both had gotten a message from Professor Snape, asking them to meet him in the classroom. But as they went inside, there was no one else in the room apart from Snape.
"Did we get here early?" Claire asked. "Where is everyone?"
"You and Miss Snyde are my only students today, Miss Krystal," Snape said. "And because you have missed several of my classes due to your little skirmish with 'R,' neither of you are considered eligible for graduation."
"What?" Merula exclaimed. "But we — "
"Please do not shout, Miss Snyde," Snape interrupted. "Now because of your efforts in protecting our school from dangerous wizards and witches, I have decided to give you two one final test. If you pass it, you can graduate."
Claire wanted to argue with Snape, but she knew it was ultimately pointless. "What kind of test is it?"
"I want you to brew me a Cure for Boils," Snape said.
"That's Year 1 stuff!" Merula objected. "Why should we have to brew something that easy?"
"On your first day here, Miss Krystal, your Cure for Boils Potion blew up because Miss Snyde laced the cauldron with Bulbadox Powder," Snape recalled.
"Hey, that was never confirmed!" Merula objected. "So how can you blame me for something I may or may not have done?"
"Regardless of whose fault it was, you will both be brewing a Cure for Boils from memory. Your time begins now!"
Immediately, Claire turned the burner on her cauldron while Merula fetched the ingredients which included snake fangs, horned slugs, and porcupine quills.
"Was I supposed to grab six snake fangs?" Merula asked Claire.
"Yes, I think so," Claire said.
"Given that you're both Seventh-Years, I expect nothing more than a perfect potion," Snape chimed in.
"The potion needs to be blue with pink smoke coming from it," Merula reminded.
"I know," Claire said nervously. "Just give me a moment to remember how many times the potion's supposed to be stirred."
So Merula remained quiet while Claire stirred the ingredients in. Once the potion was done and put in a vial, Snape picked up the vial and smelled it.
"From a technical standpoint, it is a perfect potion," Snape said flatly. "You are both cleared to graduate from Hogwarts."
"Woo-hoo!" Claire shouted.
"Pipe down, Krystal," Merula said. "No need to make a scene."
"Agreed," Snape responded. "You're free to go, Miss Snyde. But I would like to speak with you privately, Miss Krystal."
"Okay," Claire said, toning her voice down.
After Merula left the classroom, Snape glared at Claire. "I was recently told 'R' had planned to infiltrate the school in order to capture an experienced Legilimens."
"That's right," Claire confirmed.
"Yet you didn't inform any of the faculty about it before you and your friends decided to confront 'R' on the bridge, least of all either me or Dumbledore — assuming we were 'R''s intended targets."
"Well, I — "
"How you chose to handle that situation was reckless, irresponsible, and unacceptable! Especially since it was I who taught you how to use your Legilimency."
"I'm very sorry, Professor. There was no time to warn you beforehand."
Snape's glare softened as he looked away. "Apology accepted. I…hope you find success after graduation. Now get out."
Claire was so flattered by Snape's backhanded comment that she couldn't express it in words, so she just did as Snape instructed and left.
The day before their N. E. W. T.s exam, Claire and Merula decided to arrange one final meeting for the Circle of Khanna claiming it was a study session. But in reality, it was to check up on everyone and see what their future plans were.
"Since we last spoke, I've painted three pieces dedicated to the Battle of the Bridge," Badeea said. "That's what I'm calling our fight with 'R.'"
"Good name!" Andre complemented. "And that battle did give me some ideas for dueling gear to make."
"Hopefully, things will be more normal around here from now on," Beatrice said, holding Penny's hand. "But I suppose what we went through did bring me and my sister back together again. So...thanks?"
"My grand plan is to travel the world and become the best Dueler ever!" Diego declared.
"I'm probably just going to focus more on Quidditch," Cedric added.
"We've got some new prank ideas in mind going into next year," Fred said while his identical twin George smirked beside him.
"Any further news about your dad, Claire?" Barnaby asked.
"Moody hasn't said anything," Claire replied.
Barnaby looked grim. "If you need a shoulder to cry on, I could — "
"Thanks, Barnaby, but I've done enough crying," Claire said.
"So how are you still alive, Merula?" Ismelda asked. "Wouldn't your Unbreakable Vow have killed you for helping Claire on the bridge?"
"When Merula was confronted by Verucca, she decided the Circle was her true family and not her aunt," Claire explained.
Ismelda didn't believe this. "But Merula couldn't have known she wasn't going to die for switching sides, right?"
"I didn't," Merula said. "But I did it anyway."
This made Ismelda and some of the other Circle members flinch in surprise, while Ben gave a slight smile.
"Guess that means you've truly redeemed yourself in our eyes," Ben said after a pause. "If only Rowan were alive to see this moment."
"How should we remember her, now that we've avenged her life?" Merula looked to Claire.
"She should be remembered as a brilliant student, a brave hero, and a good friend," Claire said. "To Rowan Khanna!"
Raising her wand, Claire used Lumos to light it up. Everyone else did the same, creating a glowing light that stood against the darkened sky as the sun was setting. Claire then said her goodbyes to each Circle member before they parted ways to get a good night's rest. But Claire decided to pay Olivia Green a visit at the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, and instead found a lean man wearing a black robe with a purple turban.
"Oh, hello," the man said in surprise. "Can I h-help you with s-s-something?"
"You're…Professor Quirrell, right?" Claire said. "Didn't you go on sabbatical?"
"T-t-that I did," Quirrell replied. "B-but now that I've returned from…Albania, I w-w-will be t-taking over as the D-Defense Against the D-Dark Arts P-Professor."
"But I thought you taught Muggle Studies. And where is Olivia?"
"She…r-resigned."
"Resigned? She never said anything about that to me."
"Perhaps she h-had her r-reasons. After all, some say this p-p-position is c-cursed."
"Hmm, that might explain why none of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors last longer than a year."
To be continued…
