Control
That afternoon at five o'clock the control operation to Hippolyta by the Sly family began. Sev had agreed with Deborah to leave them alone, so that she did not feel suddenly overwhelmed or disappointed if what she expected was to be alone with him.
They settled in his corner of the Common Room, face to face, Sev let her sit in front of the window, and while asking her the theory of third year Transfiguration for the exam she had the next day, realizing that she knew everything perfectly, he read her, discovering that this lunch she had finished the two complete dishes and had not vomited them.
After a while, before the others arrived, they made a break and he asked her very sweetly, "What have you eaten today, Hippolyta?"
"The two dishes."
"Very good."
"I also wanted to eat the dessert as you have told me, but I couldn't fit it," explained the girl.
"No problem. At the moment it's enough with both dishes. If you are used to eating very little it is normal that you can't have everything."
"Yeah... but I has been sorry, because the dessert is what I like the most."
"An idea has occurred to me," he said. "Have you already thought about sitting with us, the elders?"
"I don't know, Prince... it's going to be very weird."
"Why? Shelley and Ariel do it."
"But because they are boyfriends and she is with her brother," she objected.
"Not at all, they are not yet boyfriends," ironic, and silky, "They are very good friends, like us."
"But they will be boyfriends one day."
"As us," said Sev.
"How you hallucinate, Prince!"
They laughed.
"Your favorite phrase," he said.
"I already have two. The other is, 'how good, something else in common'."
"True."
"Which is yours?" Hippolyta asked.
"Booff... I don't know if I want to tell you."
"Come on, tell me."
"If I survive," Sev smiled sadly.
"Booaaah... of course..." somewhat alarmed, and very sure, "You'll do it, you'll see, they will not be able to beat you. I wish I could go with you everywhere to fight together, so they could not beat you."
Wow... how we love each other. "I'm sure about it, Hippolyta, I would put my life in your hands without hesitation."
"Ugh... we were laughing and we've already got serious."
"Well, sometimes we also have to get serious. I wanted to tell you about something serious, give you good reasons for you to sit with us in the Great Hall."
"One have just occurred to me," said the girl. "I just told you that I would go with you everywhere, so that, be with you also in the Great Hall."
"Very good reason, yes lady."
"What other reason did you have?"
"That you can eat some dessert of those who do not have it even if you do not finish your second dish," he proposed.
"Can I do that?" surprised. "My parents don't let me have dessert if I don't finish all the food."
Wonderful, she is not going to rebel against us.I have herin my pocket. "Well, so we will leave you, at least from here until summer, until little by little you can eating more and in the end you can eat everything, both dishes and the dessert."
"Booaaah ... great," she exclaimed, excited. "Because as I never finished both dishes, I can never try the dessert."
"Then, are you already determined?"
"Yes, and another reason just occurred to me."
"Which?" Sev asked.
"Forget a while of the useless of my friends."
They laughed.
"I was going to give that one to you too. But you have to continue relating with them, they are your classmates, with which you still have four years of school, sit with them in class and share a bedroom. It is important that you get along with them, otherwise, when we the elders graduate you will stay alone."
"You see what problem," Hippolyta replied sufficiently. "I love being alone, you know I'm independent."
"How good, something else in common."
They laughed.
"Then, are you determined?"
"Yes, Prince."
"Well, think about who you want to sit with and in front."
"Will you let me choose?" excited.
"Of course. Remember, you are the Queen of the Warriors, you command."
"Wow, Prince ... Then I know who I want with. With you."
They smiled openly ar each other.
"In front or by my side?" he asked.
"Oh... I don't know…" worried. "Because in front I can look at you, but next to you is better to talk."
"Well, every day or every meal what you want more."
"Oh really? You all will have to change for me."
"Nothing happens," he reassured her. "It's just a hole, if you want in front you sit where Deborah is now, between her and Anthony, and if you want by my side you can sit between Ariel and me or between Valerie and me."
"And you do not care to stop sitting with them?"
"Of course, nothing happens. In addition, we go to the Great Hall to eat, do not think so much can be spoken, you have to concentrate to eat quiet."
"I eat very slowly, the food is always cooled, so I do not like it," explained the girl. "Today I got the last one from the table to finish both dishes."
Wow... without watching her, just to do what I have told her, and her companions have not waited for her. "Well, if necessary we will go earlier, to give you time to eat quietly."
"Ugh... I'm feeling bad for so many things you are going to do for me."
"Well, don't do it, Hippolyta, that's what friends do for each other, families. You don't have siblings, now we are like your older siblings, who take care of you."
"Sure…"
"In the future you will take care of us, when thanks to you we'll win the war."
"Indeed," she said. "Have you told them anything about this morning?"
"Only Deborah."
"Brilliant. I was asking you so I wouldn't slip. What have you told her?"
Sev told her, verbatim, except for what he didn't think was appropriate for her to talk to Deborah about.
"Very good. You haven't told her any of our secrets," Hippolyta appreciated.
"Of course not."
"Then I can talk to her about those things."
"Of course," he confirmed.
"Then I know where I want to sit tonight. In front of you and next to her."
"Great. Know that they are about to arrive, we are all going to spend the time until dinner together, so that you can get to know them all."
"Wow… great."
"Meanwhile I keep asking you Transfiguration," Sev proposed.
"Bah... let's leave the theory, you've seen that I know it great. You have not told me anything."
"Yes, you know it very well, but verbatim as it is in the book. In the future you have to think about learning to express yourself in your own words, you have to learn to write, otherwise you may not reach the Outstanding in the OWLs. This summer I will also give you homework."
"Ugh, Prince... how much trouble you're going to for me. I already feel very bad."
"Don't feel bad, it's what I have to do for the people I love, take care of them."
"Now I liked how you told me much more."
"I will tell you as many times as necessary and in many ways, Hippolyta, because that is what I feel."
"The one who said he wasn't brave."
Booff… let's continue, I can't stand it. "Come on, let's leave the theory and get to the practice."
They moved to the center of the table, next to each other, and practiced third year Transfiguration. Shortly afterwards the family arrived and greeted them.
Sev bonded with Deborah and told her, "Deborah, sit next to Hippolyta." He unbonded again.
Deborah sat next to the girl, Valerie in front of her, and said, "Hi gorgeous. How pretty you look... Have you cut your hair?"
"Yes, this morning," the girl replied. "I was fed up with my long hair."
Exceptional liar, but she doesn't lie to me, Sev thought.
"You did well, it looks much better on you like this," said the eldest girl.
"I haven't done it for that, I have done it because it is more comfortable."
"Sure. Like me, who now puts it up in a bun. Much more comfortable than wearing your hair long and down."
"You also look prettier with the bun, even more so than with the tail," Hippolyta said.
"Thank you."
"I'm also going to cut mine this summer," said Deborah. "Like you or boy-style."
"I'm going to cut it boy-style this summer," continued the youngest. "Now I've seen myself like that and I like it, but I also want to see myself the other way. If I don't like it, I'll let it grow like that again."
Good, great.She's taken her own criteria again, Sev thought. "I also want to see you with boy-style hair. It is even more comfortable, so as not to waste time drying it."
"Of course, that's precisely why I want to cut it like this, as short as possible."
"Of course, Hippolyta, then cut it."
"If it weren't for the fact that I would scare my parents to death, I would shave my head."
Everyone who heard it except Sev and Deborah burst into laughter. In Erised that's how she wears it, just a little fuzz that has just grown from her shaved head.
"I don't understand what you're laughing at!" the girl exclaimed, angry. "As if there were no bald people."
"Hippolyta, you would be very cold," Sev told her.
"You see what a problem," addressing him, calmly. "I would put on a hat and that's it."
"Yes, you're right. When you are of age you shave it."
"I already told you that I'm going to do it, to try if I like it."
"Another of my favorite phrases, you have to try to know what you like," he encouraged her.
"I like that one more than the one before."
"Me too."
"Come on, let's continue practicing."
Each one set about their tasks. Sev Summoned objects and Hippolyta transformed them, she was great at it.
"Wooow... But you Summon anything and without a wand, that's not fifth year, it's from NEWT," she told him.
"And how do you know it's from NEWT?"
"Because I have already read all the theory of all the Defense subjects. That's why this morning I already knew the intention of the Unforgivables, all the defensive spells that you have taught me, the Patronus, and that it was very strange that you had invented spells and potions on your own, because that is not learned at Hogwarts."
"Have you already read the theory of all the years?" he asked deeply amazed.
"Of course, the books are in the Library and I have a lot of free time because I don't have electives. What did you think? You do not?"
"No. Only Defense."
"Excellent. Something to teach you."
"You are admirable, Hippolyta." When she does the cave ritual she will have everything studied, until seventh year.Amazing.She will be able to dedicate herself to the subjects of Astronomy.
While Hippolyta was distracted transforming, Sev bonded with Deborah. "Are we in private, Deborah?"
It took Deborah a few seconds to respond, "Now we are."
"All in order. Two full plates and no vomiting."
"Great."
"And I also asked her and she told me the truth," he added.
"Brilliant. Is she going to sit with us in the Great Hall?"
"Yes, and she has already chosen a place, between you and Anthony, to have me in front of her and talk to you about what she has done this morning. I have told her some things that you know."
"Great, I'll let her be the one to bring up the topics," she suggested.
"She told me that, in fact, she takes a long time to eat. Today she got up last at the table to finish the two dishes, her yearmates did not wait for her."
"Oh… So I'm going to organize everything to leave the house at a quarter past seven."
"Great," Sev agreed. "I have suggested that she eat some dessert instead of finishing the main course. Can you give her yours?"
"I will ask her whatever she wants. Maybe she prefers you to give yours to her."
"Okay."
Hippolyta patted his arm, demanding his attention. "Hey, Prince, you're stuck. How have I done?"
He unbonded from Deborah. She says she's independent, but she needs a lot of attention. "Great, Hippolyta, everything works out the first time. You're going to get Outstanding in Transfiguration, which I've never done yet."
"I already told you that I was over the top. We wasted time, we could have done something more interesting."
"I wanted to make sure you did well on the exam. That's also loving you and caring about you."
"Ugh, Prince... don't tell me so many times, I can't stand it."
"You're right, sorry. I couldn't stand it either."
"Let's leave this now, I'm bored. Let's chat for a while."
"Okay," he agreed.
"Do you have an exam tomorrow?"
"Yes, Potions."
"What do you have to take out?" the girl asked.
"Outstanding, for Medimagic."
"And you don't need to study?"
Very good, she cares about me too, she knows how to give back what is given to her, Sev thought. "I have gotten Outstanding in Potions since first year. I'm the best at home in Potions. You know, what I told you this morning, I improve the recipes in the book with Arithmancy."
"Will you also teach me how to do that?"
"Of course, you're going to be great at it. What exam do you have on Monday?"
"Astronomy," Hippolyta responded.
"And in the morning you told me that you're not doing too well, right?"
"I'm not."
"But you must work on it if you also want to take the Astronomy NEWT, I'm sure they will ask for Outstanding in that one," he recommended.
"Sure."
"Are you going to go to the Library to study with your friends?"
"I already control all the theory, just like Transfiguration," she responded. "I need more practical exercises."
"Okay, then we'll do something. I want to help Fiona with Potions, she needs Outstanding too. The three of us will sit together in the Library where your friends sit and I'll help you both, I'll give you problems. When they close, we'll continue here. How about?"
"Is Fiona your fifth grade classmate?"
"Yeah."
"You don't need to help me, Prince, you've already spent the whole day with me. Help her, she needs it most, I have the whole weekend, let's meet tomorrow or the day after."
Very well, she is not so demanding, although she is looking forward to it, she is generous and capable of giving up what she wants for others. "I don't care, I can take care of you both, and I really want to study Astronomy, much more than Potions."
"Okay, then, if you do it for pleasure, yes."
How quickly she accepted, I got her. "You'll see how much fun we'll have," smiling at her and stroking her head.
"How good, something else in common."
At seven twenty the seven occlumants, the two fifth-grade girls and Hippolyta, arrived for dinner. The Great Hall was empty. She sat between Deborah and Anthony, right in front of Sev, blocking his view of Lily's hole. She has eclipsed her.
They began to eat dinner, everyone did so slowly. Sev bonded with Deborah and told her about the Library's plan. She told him, "For the moment we are not going to go overboard with the control thing.I don't think she even thought about vomiting food."
"No, she hasn't thought about it. Not at least when I read her this afternoon."
"We'll read her again when she is finishing dinner and if she has not done so we'll let her prepare quietly at home to go to the Library. It would be very suspicious to follow her to the bathroom of her bedroom, we could give her ideas that she hasn't thought of."
"Sure."
"And the same if she is in the Library and goes to the toilet," she continued. "You read her immediate ones, and if she is going to vomit, let Fiona accompany her and prevent it, she is already warned."
"Does Fiona know what we read?"
"Of course, I've told her, and I've told Heather too. Does it matters? Black knows it too, and they are as trustworthy as he is."
"Of course."
They unbonded. The others chatted relaxedly.
Deborah asked Hippolyta, "Are you liking the first one, Hippolyta?"
"Yes, today it is good."
"It's true, today is very good. The food is tastier in summer than in winter, right?"
"Yes, I like the summer one better, it doesn't matter so much that it gets cold," answered the youngest.
Shortly after, as the Hall was filling, Ariel and Shelley arrived. The girl said, "There you go, Hippolyta!" very surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I don't have to give you any explanation," she replied cockily. "I sit wherever I want."
The older ones laughed. Not Sev, but he said, admiringly, "Very well said, Hippolyta."
They looked into each other's eyes, with deep appreciation on their part, smiling.
Ariel tugged at the sleeve of Sev's robe and said softly, "Why has Hippolyta sat with us?"
"Because we invited her. She does not have older siblings at school and she needs a family to take care of her."
"Of course, like Jack and Deborah did with me."
"That is. Explain it to Shelley."
"Okay." The boy turned to talk to his friend.
Hippolyta also chatted quietly with Deborah, without stopping eating, relaxed. Sometimes they laughed. She's telling her about curses and combat, showing off.
Sev bonded with Lily and Lauren, "Hello girls, how are you? Shall I interrupt you?"
"Not at all, Sev," Lily responded, very sweet. "How are you?"
"Turned inside out."
"Leave it, Severus, have dinner in peace," Lauren told him, also very sweetly. "Don't start crying."
"Ok, I'm sorry. We'll talk tomorrow."
"That's it, Sev," Lily told him. "We'll talk tomorrow."
He unbonded, crying. Valerie noticed and said in his ear, "Courage, brave. You're doing great, I realized it long before Deborah and didn't give it any importance. I've been watching her change in the locker room on the Quidditch pitch all year."
"Oh…"
"I feel terrible, but of course, I had no idea about those things."
What a story... And I was instantly alarmed and I guessed everything that was happening without having any idea either, he thought. "Don't worry, Valerie, it's done now, we'll solve it."
"Okay, but don't suffer."
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Ariel called him again and said quietly, "Sev, Sev. I've already explained it to Shelley."
"And what did she tell you?"
"Nothing, this morning we were worried because Hippolyta has not come to the Library with us. Was she with you? You were both late for lunch."
Oh… They do care about her and pay attention to her, not like her other yearmates who don't wait for her to finish eating. "Yes, she was with me. I have taken her to fight in my forest clearing, like at Christmas with you," Sev lied. "But don't tell anyone that, it's a secret."
"Okay. Does she fight well?"
"She is magnificent. Fight her someday if you want, go to the clearing."
"Does he fight better than me?" asked the boy.
"No, but it's because she hasn't trained as much as you. I think that one day she will surpass you, she has more spirit, aim and agility than you, without anyone having taught her."
"Wow..." admired, but without a trace of envy. "She is like you, who also learned alone."
"Well yes."
"Shelley is also worried because she says she is very thin," continued the youngest. "Is that why you invited her to sit with us?"
Oh… Shelley had noticed too, but Hippolyta doesn't want her to know that's why she's sitting with us. "Yes, Ariel, that's why."
"Is that a secret too?"
"Yes, honey, that's a secret too until she gets better. Don't say anything to Shelley so she doesn't ask her awkward questions."
"Okay."
"Come on, don't worry anymore and have dinner in peace."
Sev continued eating dinner in silence. Hippolyta chatted at times with Deborah and at times looked at him.
When he was finishing the second one and the girl was already halfway through it, he bonded with Deborah. "Are you going to give her your dessert?"
"Yes, I'll give it to her. She is embarrassed that others see what you give her."
"Ugh… poor girl."
"Don't be sad, Prince, little by little, you have a long way to go."
Sev left a spoonful of his second plate so that the dessert would not appear. Hippolyta left the second one halfway but ate all of Deborah's dessert, enjoying it very much. They smiled at each other. He read her, vomiting hadn't even crossed her mind, on the contrary, she was absolutely happy. He too, so much so that he was crying.