...
It had been weeks since the Christmas holidays, and quite frankly, despite some setbacks, Rodrick's mood had improved significantly. For the first time since the start of the year, his friends had finally decided it was time for some actual studying.
To top it off Blaise hadn't complained at all!
And though they were a couple of months away, Rodrick found himself confident enough for each exam coming up aside from Herbology.
It was the only subject he couldn't really stand... He wasn't overly fond of Astronomy either, but still, he had to spend time on it, if only so his grandfather had no excuses.
Despite being somewhat above average in Potions given he was at the very least on Granger's level who had to be decent at it, as even his professor never had any complaints about her work. Despite definitely being above average at Transfiguration, given the whole Human Transfiguration talent his grandfather had drilled into his head over a number of years (There was something wrong with that sentence, he just wasn't sure if it was the sleep deprivation or not). Despite being a tad better than normal when it came to Charms and Defence (The less said about his new twitchy, utterly terrified of his own classroom, and definitely temporary teacher according to the wizard himself, the better).
Hell even if he got a perfect score on nearly every exam...
His grandfather could care less about them all if he saw one or two results he didn't like.
As far as Gellert Grindelwald was concerned, the only thing worth specializing in was everything.
Still, far be it for him to throw his group of delinquents under the table- He helped make sure his three first friends would be somewhat ready for their own struggles.
He definitely threw Nott under the table.
After his fifth, ignored, attempt at trying to convince the daft idiot as to why it was important for one to read the safety guidelines of fourth-year curses, he gave it up as a lost cause and moved on.
Honestly, it was like he expected to jump into the middle of a spell, make it work, and somehow avoid the consequences you haven't read about, to be a genuine strategy.
Yes, smart though he was given his natural ability not to fail any exams without putting any work in, Theodore Nott was an idiot when it came to learning dangerous magical spells.
Strangely he'd been approached several times while in the library by a group of Gryffindors, two of whom he'd spent a... Vexing Christmas with given the constant food/projectile fights, and one Hermione Granger who'd actually benefited from the Christmas Wars.
The Gryffindor's first years hadn't been keen on having a potential spy in their midst, so they did everything they could to integrate the girl into their house and eventually forgot why they started to do so in the first place.
How did he know?
Seamus 'Exploding' Finnigan had called her a spy on the second day she'd come back from her home because she'd spent the first evening in the library with Slytherins, him and Tracey. Harry and Ron, to his surprise, had taken offense to that and accidentally started a fight on their own side of the table. (The trigger happy nature of the Christmas Wars was truly a wonder to behold)
Still, he was getting side-tracked. He'd been approached by the trio over the course of the few weeks because Hermione Granger was trying and failing to convince them to study.
So she thought he could do it.
As if he didn't have enough on his plate already.
...
"What did they want?" Daphne questioned as she settled down beside him, an old leathery textbook creating a minor dust storm as she opened it up- A hint of malicious laughter filling their background as he gave the book a deadpan look, before gracing an equally perturbed Greengrass.
"...I am just going to ignore the laughing book-"
Daphne nodded as she promptly closed it, walked back to the shelf she'd found it in and placed it there.
And by they, she was referring to the sulking Gryffindors- Well, Hermione was sulking, the other two looked relatively happy he'd once again refused to indulge them with a guide to passing ones exams.
Personally, it was nothing against the girl, though besides the fact that he had to actually work harder, theory wise at any rate, to keep up with her- He'd once pointed out the fact that the two of them were really only competing with each other in their classes, and that if they decided to slow down, the others still wouldn't catch up and they'd actually have an easier time of it.
Unsurprisingly, Hermione had disagreed, with slowing down that is. Evidently she hadn't in fact noticed they were so much further ahead, and in having told her, he'd somehow managed to make her work harder! Apperantly the fact he could keep up with her was a sign she wasn't working hard enough!
She hadn't actually said it in those words- Rather that she was actually happy she had someone to wage an intellectual war with- Again, not her words, but the idea stands!
She treated him like a rival of sorts!
He'd wanted to stall the so called war, not to start round two!
What was it with hogwarts and starting wars over everything!?
"Rodrick?" The girl clicked her fingers at him, having taken her seat once again, an unamused look on her face. "What'd the Gryffindors want?"
"Hermione wanted me to help her teach her new friends some basics." A single beat passed. "I passed on the offer, given I am busy teaching you idiots some basics."
Daphne twitched at him.
"I am the only one here Rodrick."
"...Apologies. I am busy teaching an idiot some basics."
She harrumphed at him, crossing her arms in the process as she leaned back into her seat.
"You know, you used to be a lot more charming,"
He nodded moroselly. "That was when I thought I was among equals."
Daphne blinked once at the face he was making before she giggled, and shook her head. "Oh my, is that pureblood in you speaking?" She questioned with a grin, "And here I was starting to think you were lying about that!"
"What's there to lie about?" He deadpanned in response. "You're a pureblood, it's hardly a confirmation for talent or prestige."
"..." Daphne's humor disappeared from her face as she crossed her arms again, a petulant expression taking over. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just leave right now." A single beat passed. "That was very rude."
He shrugged in response.
"You'll fail your exams?"
She rolled her eyes at him, uncrossing her arms as she leaned in, a wagging finger pointed towards him.
"I'll have you know I am more than capable of handling my own studying."
He nodded in agreement.
"Potential was never your problem Daphne, it was motivation." He deadpanned. "Need I remind you of the hellish week you put me through when you came back because you'd decided to leave your Christmas homework to the last minute?" A single beat passed in silence. "And by the last minute, I am referring to the whining you put me through to help you finish it on time."
Her finger froze, her head slumping downwards as it faced the table.
"...You know you don't always have to bring that up."
"True, as soon you do it again, I'll have a more recent example to use."
"Oi..." She twitched in response.
...
Tracey, as well as Blaise, had eventually turned up with more books, a majority of them were on potions and History, their struggles respectively. And while Blaise completely ignored the sullen look on Daphne's face... Tracey had decided to derail, whatever amount of progress they'd made into their work, almost immediately at showing up.
Rodrick couldn't be bothered to explain anything so he left the job up to Daphne, who'd elected to embellish her tale of woe.
Needless to say, Blaise had gained a few notches of respect for him, while Tracey was trying her best to avoid laughing out loud for it.
Alas it wasn't long before the reality of the situation kicked in for the two as they realsied they were both behind Daphne in terms of been prepared, which essentially threw them over the line into definitely-going-to-fail.
He'd told them as much. And it would've been true if their exams were in under a month, but they certainly didn't need to know that part.
Needless to say, they had a rather productive session until Malfoy's trio decided to show up. The blonde had been rather vex with him over not having attended the Malfoy's Christmas party- As if he'd been sent a demand as opposed to an invitation.
Recently, he'd started showing up because evidently he'd grown a reputation for helping students somewhat avoid the risk of failure, even though he was only actively helping three students.
Fortuantely enough before Malfoy could ask him to help teach Crabbe and Goyle, again, (Never directly himself, given his pride or what not), Madam Pince effectively kicked them all out given it was actually rather late in the day.
Honestly though, it's as if the castle actually expected him to help every single person in his year, given at the very least a quarter of them had so far tried to guilt trip him to doing it- Like why not just ask Hermione Granger, someone who actually did want to help everyone!
Was it selfish? Absolutely not, he was well within his rights to refuse. Was it wrong? He had bigger wrongs to worry about. Was it rude? Hogwarts had practically killed the part that cared about rudeness out of him by now.
Frankly, if the castle wanted him to help, then it might aswell give him the damn cup for it.
At least then he'd have something to take his grandfather's attention and disappointment when he inevitably lost a mark or two in an exam he wasn't good enough at.
Honestly, he doubted anyone else knew what it was like to grow up with a Dark Lord's expectations and standards held over their head.
...
Hope You Enjoyed! Don't Forget Feedback!