July to September 1943, summer of 5th year and 6th year
Their O.W.L. scores arrived at the end of July. Naenia achieved seven 'Outstandings' and two 'Exceeds Expectations'. It was better than she had expected, considering how boring she found History of Magic or had never really paid much attention in Astronomy – it was just too bothersome to stay up way past her bedtime to stare at the stars and then walk all the way back from the tallest tower to the dungeons. And then have classes the next day.
There was a small note from Headmaster Dippet congratulating her on being the top student in both Potions and Study of Ancient Runes.
Naenia was pretty sure that Tom had not only achieved a perfect score of ten 'Outstandings', but was also top of the year in nearly every single one of them.
Amelia didn't fare quite as well, but she was satisfied with her overall marks and looking forward to having potions with Naenia. The N.E.W.T. level class was usually attended by all four houses, because there were so few people applying for it. They would certainly have Charms and Herbology with the Hufflepuffs again, maybe a few more – though Amelia wouldn't apply for Defence Against the Dark Arts and that left Transfiguration.
Her friend would be taking five classes in total – Charms, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures. Tom would most likely continue all ten of his subjects or maybe drop one or two he deemed unimportant. It didn't matter what Naenia applied for, he would be there, anyway.
She contemplated taking all seven of her Outstanding classes, because it would certainly look good, but there wasn't really any need for that - and the less classes she took, the less work she had to do. She couldn't decide what to drop, though, so she still ended up with six subjects and, maybe, Alchemy as well. The latter depended on the number of students applying and Professor Dumbledore, himself. Naenia wasn't happy that he taught Alchemy, but she was too curious to let that deter her.
In the end, it didn't matter. Because, one month later, she received a letter from Professor Dumbledore that, regrettably, Alchemy would not take place this year as not enough students had applied. Naenia shrugged it off. One class less to take up her time.
N.E.W.T. level classes and prefect duties were more than enough already.
The new Head Boy and Girl decided to handle things the same way as their predecessors had, Naenia didn't even bother learning their names. Malfoy had been chosen as one of the fifth-year prefects and looked very smug about it, but that was about all she took interest in.
She patrolled the train corridors with Amelia this time, which was nice, but soon regretted sitting with the Hufflepuffs. After their initial wariness had worn off, they were just being so loud and cheerful, quite different from the poised purebloods of Slytherin that Naenia usually surrounded herself with. One Hufflepuff she could take, but several were a bit much. (Amelia would scold her for still putting them into categories like that, but Naenia had no reason to tell her she did.)
The Welcoming Feast went over smoothly, apart from the fact that Naenia didn't touch the food and no one bothered her about it. Then she and Tom led the first-year Slyherins to the dungeons, where Naenia watched them avoid her eyes as Tom explained the rules of Slytherin House.
Classes were a bit different this year – not all of them, but most. They still shared Charms and Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, as predicted, and Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws. Defence Against the Dark Arts and Study of Ancient Runes was shared by all houses and apart from Naenia only one other girl attended. Potions was much the same – with a total of three girls this time, Amelia among them. Naenia recognized the other one, because the Ravenclaw was present in every single one of Naenia's classes except Charms and Herbology. Her name was Jenkins, she soon learned, and she was number three of their year, right after Tom and Naenia.
Naenia sat next to Amelia whenever she could, and ignored Tom when he took the Hufflepuff's place.
The difficulty of their lessons had increased significantly, although Naenia only really noticed that by watching her classmates struggle. Tom seemed to breeze through them as effortless as ever and Jenkins, now that Naenia was starting to pay attention to her, was quite the studious girl, always coming to class prepared and making sure to finish all her studies and assignments early.
They were expected to use nonverbal spells in most of their classes this year and Naenia almost laughed at that. She couldn't decide between being amused and shaking her head at her classmates - because her family still remembered the times when wizards hadn't needed incantations in the first place.
She felt much the same about potions, where she shared a table with Tom, Jenkins and Amelia – which was quite the combination of brilliant minds, according to Slughorn. Who still did not bother to teach them anything. He just gave them a page in the outdated book he had assigned this year and waited for miracles to happen.
He did redeem himself slightly by presenting them with a selection of advanced potions he had brewed for them. He wasn't that incompetent after all. Veritaserum, Polyjuice Potion and Amortentia were rather difficult to master, Naenia had to give him that. (She didn't mind the fifteen points he awarded her for recognizing them, either.)
The love potion caused quite a stir. Slughorn graciously let everyone come forward to see what it smelled like for them and some people apparently made quite astonishing discoveries. Amelia, for one, seemed quite blissful until she realized that it wasn't just something she liked but rather someone and she knew who it was. She wouldn't tell Naenia, but she admitted it was someone from their year.
For Naenia, herself, it was the scent of the rich earth after rainfall and something flowery – just the way her personally selected parfum smelled – but also books and rotting flesh. There was no familiar whiff of a person and she hadn't expected one.
Tom didn't react outwardly and while she wondered what he had smelled, Naenia wouldn't ask. He wouldn't have told her anyway, even if they had been on better terms.
Professor Slughorn assigned them to brew the Draught of Living Death, which was way above the level his students were supposed to be and more fitting for a lesson towards the end of their sixth or even seventh school year. Suffice it to say, Naenia was the only one who managed it perfectly. Jenkins and Amelia suffered from the flawed instructions and Tom was good, but not as good as Naenia. As for the rest… Well, they never had had a chance in the first place, because the instructions were just so full of mistakes and Slughorn had never taught them what the intentions behind them were in the first place.
If you needed the juices, then crushing made more sense than cutting. Adding a clockwise stir after every seventh counter-clockwise stir added more balance to the potion's magic.
The potions professor was delighted by her results, promptly extended a dinner invitation (which Naenia would definitely decline) and in such a good mood that he didn't even question her need for a permanent pass for the Restricted Section of the library. He had his good sides, after all.
After a week had passed, Naenia was called to the Hospital Wing, where the nurse examined her and gave her a bright smile, because she had taken care of herself this time. Naenia supressed the urge to roll her eyes at that and merely nodded.
She would have lied, if she said she wasn't surprised to see Nott waiting for her outside.
"I can't see him pining this time," he said, forgoing a proper greeting. "Although I suspect he has just gotten better at hiding it."
Naenia huffed. "Is this going to be the same talk we had last year – where you try to convince me that Tom and I need to reconcile for your sake?"
Nott grinned. "Not this time. Like I said, he has gotten better at hiding it. He is just as cold and cruel as he had been before your fallout."
"You did only approach me because you wanted us to make up in the first place," Naenia pointed out.
"True," Nott said and his grin widened. "And look how wonderful our friendship turned out to be."
Naenia tilted her head. "I will admit to enjoying our conversations, but I also have to tell you that I prefer Black over you."
Which was a lie.
Nott only laughed at that.
"I miss him," Naenia said softly. "Even though it has only been a week."
"Will you miss me too?" Nott asked curiously.
She smiled. "I just might."
"Well, Riddle is not making me choose, so I figure we have this year at least. Unless he changes his mind."
"How gracious of him," Naenia said dryly.
"It is, isn't it?" Nott dropped his smile. "He still has that book, you know? The one about runes that you gifted him."
Naenia raised an eyebrow. "I thought this wasn't about reconciling us."
"It isn't. I just felt like telling you." Nott glanced around the still deserted corridor.
Standing in front of the Hospital Wing wasn't exactly the best place to hold private conversations, but if Nott wanted to move then he could do so any time. He didn't.
"I don't know what happened. Riddle hasn't told us, obviously. But from what I have observed he hasn't realized, yet, how deeply he hurt you. He only sees the superficial problem, but not what lies beneath."
"And you do?"
Nott shook his head. "Not at all. But I do see that there is more to it. Riddle has offended you with whatever he has done or said, but you are truly angry and hurt because of something that happened during the argument. At least that is my guess. And while he hasn't realized at this point, I don't want you to give up on him entirely just yet. He might still come around and give you a sincere apology. You just need to be willing to listen to him, to give him a chance at least. You can still choose not to forgive him after that."
"You are more perceptive than people give you credit for."
Nott smiled. "I'll take that as the compliment it is meant to be."
Naenia lowered her eyes to the ground. "You are right about the problem at hand. But even if he does realize it someday, I still will not be able to forgive him. His actions are beyond excuse."
"Are they truly? Or is that just your personal beliefs and values speaking? You of all people should be aware of how different every individual sees the world and that not everything you think to be right or wrong might be the same for everyone else. You have to respect that."
"I know." Naenia sighed. "But so does Tom."
He nodded. "Of course."
Ꝋ
"Black tells me to say 'Hi' to you in his stead."
Amelia smiled. "Does he? That's very nice of him. How is life treating him these days?"
They were sitting by the lake, enjoying the last rays of sunshine for the day. There were quite a few students scattered around them, Naenia even spotted some swimming in the lake – reckless Gryffindors, most likely.
"As expected," Naenia said. "Being the disowned heir of the House of Black isn't the most ideal situation to be in."
Amelia hummed non-committally. "I can't imagine it to be. And he really can't just… I don't know, leave? Do whatever he wants. Live his own life."
"If only it were that easy."
"Do you want to live the way your family tells you to?"
Naenia laughed. "Oh, yes. Very much so. But the Lémures are a special case, aren't they?" She paused. "Well, actually, it depends on the decision my brothers make. But I don't think I will have to worry about that."
Amelia smiled at her, then looked over the lake wistfully. "I wonder what would have become of us, if he hadn't been a Black."
"Nothing," Naenia said.
Amelia scowled. "Come now, don't be like that."
Naenia shrugged. "You have feelings for another anyway, don't you?"
The Hufflepuff blushed. "Th-that's – I –"
Naenia grinned. "Who is it? A fellow Hufflepuff?"
"Uhm, well," Amelia stammered. "He's a Gryffindor, if you must know."
Naenia stared at her friend. "Please tell me you're joking."
Amelia's scowl deepened. "You know what I think about house stereotypes, Naenia. He's nice. He really is. And it's not like you have to like him. I do. And he me, I suppose…"
"Fine, fine. Let us pretend I don't think of him as a reckless, arrogant git. Do you think he is good for you?"
"Yes," came the prompt answer.
"Good. As long as you keep him away from me and don't decide to leave me hanging because of your newly acquired paramour, then I don't object."
"Paramour?" Amelia exclaimed. "Excuse me? He is not – We haven't even –" She gave a frustrated sigh. "Anyway. It's not like I need your permission, but I appreciate it all the same."
They fell silent again.
Laughter drifted over to them from the boys in the lake. Who were still wearing their school uniforms, from what Naenia could see over the distance. At least they were decent.
"What about you?" Amelia asked eventually. "Do you have a special someone?"
"No," Naenia said.
Amelia turned to her fully. "Really? Not even a small interest? What about T-Nott. What about Nott?"
Naenia decidedly ignored her slip-up. "We are friends."
Amelia rolled her eyes. "I know that. But you don't think there could be more?"
Naenia sighed. "I'm not interested in anyone, Amelia. I never was and I can't say I really want to, either. Seems like unnecessary trouble."
"You are so unromantic," Amelia said, disappointment clear in her voice.
"Most purebloods are," Naenia pointed out. "They have to be."
Amelia wrinkled her nose. "Because they'll be forced to marry another pureblood instead of choosing for themselves."
"They are allowed to choose, mostly."
"But the choice is very limited."
Naenia shrugged. "It is the life we grow up with. To have a limited choice."
Amelia furrowed her brows. "I thought your family was different."
"They are. I won't be forced to marry. But if I ever wish to take a partner, then that person needs to have an aptitude for Necromancy, among other things. And that restricts the choices immensely. "
"Right. I certainly don't envy you."
"I don't mind. I really don't."
"If you say so." Amelia didn't look convinced, but she didn't press the matter further.
They enjoyed the rest of the evening talking about different matters after that, but Amelia's questions stayed on Naenia's mind. It had never occurred to her that she was actually supposed to feel that way about someone. Her family wasn't known for showing emotions, nor were purebloods in general. Amelia always expressed herself so freely that it sometimes threw Naenia off-balance.
She was so deeply lost in thoughts that she didn't notice which staircase they were descending and missed one of the trick steps. Thankfully, Amelia was there to help her out. Her right knee and ankle hurt afterwards, but Naenia supressed the pain with a mere thought and assured her friend that she was fine. Amelia looked rather doubtful, but decided to trust her to know whether she needed to see the nurse or not.
Pain suppression was a very useful skill to have. As far as Naenia knew only advanced healers could do it as effortlessly as the Necromancers. She wondered whether that was because they practiced the Old Magics or whether it came with the Forbidden Arts.
She bid goodbye to Amelia and continued on to her own common room, still pondering about their conversation earlier. But this time she paid more attention to her surroundings.
AN
Bloody trick steps – why does no one do something about them?