I may not be a creature of habit but I do usually have a certain spot in the great hall, though that may have to do with the fact I usually sit there because it's away from most friendship groups, allowing me an iota of further peace in my quiet morning.
I stare down at the seat on the bench and take one step forward.
Danger
I take a step back before taking the same step forward.
Danger
Thank you sixth sense.
"Everything alright, Geur?" I withheld a snort as Potter's voice sneaked up on me.
A fake smile was forced on my face, "Yeah, quite alright Potter." I turned around and met his gaze, "You and Pettigrew are up early, any particular reason why?"
"It's not that early, it's only eight, if anything it's late for you." Pettigrew chimed in not looking me in the eyes.
"Yeah, you, Remus and Sirius got back in pretty late, any reason?"
"Nah," I stretched and walked around them, "just hanging out with them." I pushed both of them towards the bench, only for Potter to grab my arm to balance himself as Pettigrew fell on my spot.
"Shit." James cursed as he righted himself up, as Pettigrew's uniform suddenly changed into our female counterparts.
The portly boy threw me a furious glare as he scurried himself out of the great hall, his brief flapping in the breeze scarring the few early risers.
"Well, that's not a sight I wanted to see." I muttered to myself turning to Potter and giving him a bored look, "Looks like we need to talk."
"No, we don't." He huffed and tried to leave the great hall only for me to trail behind him.
"It's about Lily isn't it?" I asked the question with a clear answer.
He paused mid-step and let out a puff of frustrated air as if he was trying to calm himself down, he motioned for me to walk in step with him.
As I caught up with him he spoke, "Yes it is."
"You know we're just friends, right?"
A look of disbelief wormed its way onto his face, "You're telling me if she was interested in you, you wouldn't jump at that chance?"
I shrugged my shoulders, "Of course I would, she's gorgeous and a lovely person, yeah I would date her if she wanted to, but I'm still a teenage boy, I would want to date just about any fit girl," Shaking my thoughts off the foxy red-head, "but you're reading way too much into all of this. Plus what business is it yours if we did?"
"I call…" He caught himself from saying something asinine as dibs, "I like her."
I rolled my eyes, "And have you told her this."
Potter suddenly looked annoyed and frustrated, "Of course I have. Hell, I've asked her out every month since our third year, but I won't give up, I'll win her over." He exclaimed with no hint of awareness.
"Cool," I said in a flat voice, "but you know if she's rejecting you every single time there's probably a reason why, so why don't you stop pestering her and ask why she ain't interested? Then work from there."
Potter looked like he was chewing on my words but he didn't respond further than a small nod, "Why are you helping me, especially after I tried to prank you."
My turn to scowl, "I'm not really helping you, just telling you to grow up, if you want to be with someone as awesome as Lily, be someone that's worth her." I patted him on the shoulder, "See'ya around Potter."
'Inventory.'
2/30
Money:
Wand
Chimera charm – Boost all experience points received by 25%
Sweet as, I summoned the trinket and ran a thumb across the opened mouth of the roaring scaled lion, thankfully it came with a clasp allowing me to place it around my neck and under my shirt.
Alright now I need to improve my skills to get better perks, but despite my intelligence stat it will still be a fairly slow process only raising my DADA and potions up in the last couple of weeks, the former with hitting training dummies in the chamber and the latter with the help of Regulus the potions wiz.
Looks like I've got to throw away my save the points for later.
'Menu.'
The menu hovered in my sights, as I played around with the skills and perk menu going back and forth and checking out all of my options.
Alright, here we go.
'Skills.'
Skills Log:
Defence Against the Dark Arts: 52
Transfiguration: 42
Charms: 25
Potions: 37
Runes: 40
Care of Magical Creatures: 50
Herbology: 20
Flying: 17
Current Perks:
Magicka (1) – Doubles your MP regeneration – [No requirement]
Reserves (1) – Doubles your standing MP – [No requirement]
Sixth sense – Unlock a danger sense, altering you of possible harm towards you – [No requirement]
Reuse, Reduce and Recycle – 30% of damage taken will be absorbed into your MP [30 DADA]
A way with symbols (1) – Increase the effectiveness of your runes by 20% - [25 Runes]
The best canvas – You can etch one rune onto your body defying the laws of magic – [Rune 40]
REM – Your sleep now consists of meditation, improving your magical regeneration for a brief period – [Regain 5]
Natural Perks:
Parseltongue: Parseltongue is the language of serpents, as well as other magical serpentine creatures, like the Runespoor and Basilisk and those who can converse with them.
Occlumency – Occlumency is the act of magically closing one's mind against Legilimency. [Unlocked due to becoming a gamer, you have automatically unlocked this perk.]
Surface Thoughts - A ability to sense the surface thoughts of a being with a minor Legilimency probe. Almost undetectable. [Unlocked via the 'observe' ability]
One with Nature – Animals and creatures do not perceive you as a threat and are more inclined to relax near you. [Unlocked due to your time spent with magical creatures.]
Thick Skinned 1 – Gain a 10% damage resistance to all forms of damage. [Unlocked due to all the times you became a target dummy to a certain witch.]
Tough Bastard 1 – An increase in your overall spellwork damage by 10%. [DADA Natural Perk]
"Mr Geur," Professor Flitwick, the half-goblin professor who now has two years of teaching under his belt called out to me, "May I have a word?"
"Of course, professor." I nodded over to Lily who paused midway through packing her bag, "Go ahead Lils, I'll catch up to you later."
I walked over to the charms professor and bowed my head in respect, "Yes professor."
He gave me a kind smile and waved his hand at the adjacent chair, I nodded and took the seat, "You're not in any trouble my boy. I just wanted to say that I've noticed a slight improvement in your charms control today."
"Thank you, professor." I cleared my throat a tad bit confused.
He let out a small chuckle at my confusion, "While your charm work could do with more improvement, the power in your charms are noticeably stronger."
"They are? Wait, you can something sense like that?"
"And here I thought you knew your magical creatures quite well," He laughed good-naturedly as he pointed out his goblin features.
"Sorry professor, my mother and grandfather never allowed me to interact with goblins, they tended to be on guard if any were around."
He let out a sad sigh with an almost melancholy smile, "I'm afraid to say it's a fault on everyone for such a weary and frail cohabitation between goblin and mankind." He shakes his head and waves away his thoughts, "Bah, I'm no history professor."
"But I'm sure you would prove to be better than Binns."
"Professor Binns, young man." He corrected with a light tone.
"Sorry sir." I grinned despite his words.
"Ah, to get back on point, goblins have a keen ability to sense magic." He said getting back on point.
"What does that entail exactly, sir?"
"Well," He stroked his short-trimmed bread, "goblins have an innate sense of how much power an individual puts in a field of spell."
"Field of spell, sir?"
Professor Flitwick let out a chuckle, "Why do you think we have many different schools of magic?"
"People have different strengths and weaknesses?" I hazard a shot in the dark.
He bobbed in a so-so motion, "In parts, magic-kind has potential varies on the individual. Let's take you for example." Let's not, "From what I've been told you excel quite well in combat magic whereas in your charms," He grimace was the kindest anyone described my charms skill.
"So what are you saying, sir? That people are limited to their fixed potential, and there's no chance of moving up."
He raised a hand and shook his head in denial, "Not quite so limited, one can always improve with hard work." He said as if he was trying to kill my train of thought, "However, oh how do I word this?"
"I shouldn't expect myself to teach charms, no matter how much I improve?" I supplied.
He nodded with a wince, "Yes I would say that is an apt description, before."
"Before, sir?" I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Before, Mr Geur." He confirmed, "Your charm work has improved and that is great news, but I can't help but notice that your potential in charms has suddenly become outstanding." He said with happy ease.
"Sir…" What do I say to this?
"I have a feeling if excess your transfiguration or even any subcategories of magic potential, I'm sure it will be quite impressive." His face didn't lose its happy expression but there was an edge to it, a warning for a lack of a better word.
I really don't know how to react right now but before I could reply he raised a hand, "You may relax, Mr Geur. I've brought this up simply because I want to give you a warning of caution, magic and power can be quite addictive but it has many pitfalls, please do not lose yourself in a quest for power, you're a young wizard with much to look forward for."
Before I could reply he once again opened his mouth, "I've kept you for a while, run along now, young man." He dismissed me and for the life of me, I wanted a moment where I could unpack all that I learnt.
What am I looking at?
I mean I can see four older Gryffindor on the prowl corning Regulus, but what's throwing me off is the fact the kid I've got to known these past couple of weeks seems to defeated, he's normally so prideful and full of fire, but even with his wand in his hand, he hasn't even bothered raising a shield.
I barged past the group and stood in front of Regulus, "Come on." I commanded the Slytherin.
"Alton."
"Geur." Kellies the seventh-year lion called for me.
"What?" I turned around and met his accusing glare.
"What do you mean what? He's a snake and a fucking Black and you're trying to what, protect him?"
I bury a surge of anger, now is not the time to rule by my emotions, "So fucking what? If you got to know the brat, you would know he's nothing like clichés you're expecting."
"As if you would know?" McClagane scoffed.
"Yeah, I would because he's my friend." I defended with an even tone.
"What kind of Gryffindor are you making friends with a snake?"
"What kind of Gryffindors are you, picking on a third year four against one?" I spat, "Fucking pussies." I don't need to use observe on them to know how inadequate they are.
As the four drew their wands, a sickly voice cut in sending me on edge.
Oh, fucking joy it's her.
"You have fucking death wish, don't you mongrel?"
I rolled my eyes as the black-haired bitch twirled her wand eyes solely on me, "Look I get all the inbreeding has addled your mind, but how can you see this and assume I'm the one picking on your cousin."
"Bella. Alton is defending me against them." Regulus pipped up in my defence against his witch of a cousin.
While I wouldn't expect her to be able to display a human emotion like joy, I sure as hell didn't expect her to look disappointed, "Mongrel," She said in a soft voice, "stay out of this."
I scoffed, "Fuck off," I dismissed her, if she told me not to drive myself off a cliff, I free fall to my death just to spite her.
Quest Unlocked: Dancing with the she-devil – Fight and defeat the four Gryffindors with the aid of Bellatrix Black.
Optional Objective: Defeat more opponents
Reward: EXP 1,000
Optional Reward: 200 EXP per opponent defeated
Combat Initiated
"Stupefy." I nailed an unsuspecting student dropping him to the ground instantly before he could conjure a shield to defend himself from the stunner.
MP: 1050/1150
Black levelled her wand at a bit wide zeroing in on the gap between McClagane and Kellies, "Bombarda." She cackled as the two were thrown against the stone walls of the castle knocked out.
"Locomotor Mortis." The leg-locking curse hit true and the last remaining Gryffindor fell to the ground, I walked over to him kicking the wand out of his hand before levelling my wand over him, "Stupefy."
MP: 990/1150
Combat Ended
Quest Completed: Dancing with the she-devil – Fight and defeat the four Gryffindors with the aid of Bellatrix Black.
Optional Objective Failed: Defeat more opponents
Reward: EXP 1,000
Optional Reward Failed: 200 EXP per opponent defeated
EXP: 175/1500
Levelled Up
Level 15
…That was a fucking joke.
Wasn't expecting a grand battle for the ages but to knock them all out with less than five spells, what a load of shite.
"Why is it whenever I see you two together," Professor Slughorn looked tired as he sighed into his hand, "you have your wands out and there's always someone injured?"
"To be fair, sir," Even the way she says sir sounds deranged and hateful, "the mon-" She caught herself, "Geur and I worked together this time around."
I scoffed, "Hardly as if I would work with you."
Professor Slughorn levelled me with a blank stare, "You may want to re-think your statement, as you stand over a knocked-out student with your wand drawn."
"They started it," I replied weakly.
"Actually you threw the first spell." Purple-eyed Black chimed in.
"Why the fuck would you say that?" The she-devil shrugged her shoulders but the cocky grin on her face killed her attempt at innocence.
"For me, sir." Regulus once again pipped up, he waved at the unconscious four older students, "They have been troubling me since the beginning of the year sir, and both Alton and Bella fought in my defence."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I said in a soft tone, have these fuck faces been beating on other students or has it just been Regulus.
"Or better yet, me?" The violet-eyed Black growled with a seething hate clear in her voice.
"Neither of you needed to know." Professor Slughorn warned the both of us before regarding Regulus, "You should have told me, lad."
Regulus shuffled in place refusing to meet any of us in the eye, "I did not want to shame my family nor cause trouble."
The she-witch snorted and marched over to him, cuffing the back of his head, "Fool, you're my cousin. If so be it tell me who and I'll tear anyone apart for you."
Fucking bitch can't even show a single grain of empathy without the threat of harming someone, I honestly don't understand how Regulus can defend her.
"Enough." Professor Slughorn interrupted the 'tender' moment, "Regulus, are you injured?" Regulus shook his head, "Good, please be on your way. We will speak more of the harassment and bullying at a later time." He bade Regulus to leave the corridor.
He faced us with his professor visage, "You two will help me move these four to the hospital wing and then you'll follow me to serve your detention."
"What the fuck-"
"Language Mr Geur." The man warned.
"As much as I loathed to admit that we worked together, we defended Regulus." She defended herself while somehow dragging me to her level… gross.
"By causing harm to four students." Professor Slughorn snapped, "While I'm glad that the two of you are actually capable of not killing each other at every single interaction, I will not tolerate violence. Especially from the two of you."
"Why especially the two of us?" Black questioned with a scoff.
"I believe the two of you are capable of great things. As much to my disappointment of your squabbles you both have proven to be great combative fighters, something I would rather neither of you use your talents against, let's say lesser students."
Black started to mock retch, "Please don't compare me to the Mongrel." Her purple eyes narrowed on me.
I matched her glare, "Gag me with a spoon."
Professor Slughorn took a reserved breath through his nostrils, "Get moving." He commanded.
"Wands." Professor Slughorn held out his hand palm flat. I stared at the man dead in the eye and waited for him to repeat himself in case he had misspoken.
Black teeth clenched as she handed the jagged-handled wand, "He ain't playing around Mongrel." She tutted as she down on a polished chair smoothing out her skirt.
"I will not have either of you use magic while I'm not around." I sighed as he took my wand away, "If you two will abuse your magic, then you shouldn't be able to use it." He chided and waved towards a large prepping table full of potion ingredients.
"Let me guess…" I muttered under my breath.
He gave me a flat look causing me to zip my mouth, "I want the two of you to prep all of these ingredients for my third year."
"This is going to take all night."
"Then you best get on with it." He walked towards the exit, but not before pausing right at the door, "and if the two of you think of skipping out, I shall keep hold of your wands for as long as I feel." He walked out without allowing either of us to comment.
"Can he do that?" I questioned out loud.
"He's a head of house." Black uttered with feigning interest, "He could be balls deep in a student and nobody would bat an eye."
"The fuck is the matter with you?" I said in disgust.
She gave me a lopsided grin, "Well what else do you think he does in his in Slugclub parties?"
"You saying this out of jealousy?" Her teeth grounded as she gave me a furious look, "Oh I bet you want to be on your knees-"
In a snap she was on her feet with a cutting knife in her hand pressed against my throat… the funny thing was I'm not even the slightest bit scared.
All I could do was focus on how her eyes almost shined in the darkened potions room, how her wild hair smelled of petrichor, how her body felt pressed against my own.
Her eyes search mine before she lowers the knife and quickly barges me away. She turns her back to me and walks to the prepping table.
I gradually joined her against my better judgement and grabbed a knife of my own sorting through the ingredients on the small table, making sure to recoil anytime our hands were about to touch.
As the night went on, the only sounds that filled the classroom were the reverberations of a knife hitting a chopping board, yet despite the uneasy tension in the air, all I could think about was the moment of sheer confusion.
'What the fuck was that?'