CHAPTER THIRTEEN
For the last couple of days, there are no classes.
His time is split into moments – training Rhiannon by Hagrid's hut; drinking lemonade and playing in the shallow depths of the lake under a blazing sun; reading in the shadows of his father's office, or playing the violin.
It's the beginning of what feels like an endless summer, and for once, he looks forward to it.
The exam results are delivered and – unsurprisingly to everyone else, somehow – he's first in their year group. Douglas, despite all his worrying, comes in sixth.
Soon enough, he's packing his trunk, tidying his bed, and waiting in line to go down to the boats with Hagrid.
"Do you have a moment?"
Professor Karim stands behind, wearing the same dark blue sherwani that he'd worn at the beginning of the year and smiles. Nathaniel, who's busy talking to one of the Ravenclaw girls, takes a moment to notice.
They follow the Professor to a little alcove, keeping the group in sight.
"I enjoyed having you both in my class this year," he says quietly, "though I could've done without stumbling upon your experiments with self-transfiguration."
Nathaniel's face turns slightly pink, and Icarus is pretty sure his ears start to burn.
"But even in Uagadou, it is rare for the transformation to happen the first time round, and students spend years studying before even attempting it. You are – and don't let this go to your heads – the two most reckless and talented students I've ever met."
Professor Karim huffs a laugh.
"Though the Weasley twins come in a close second."
"Couldn't really have done it without you, Professor," Nathaniel mumbles.
Icarus nods.
And – just for a moment – Professor Karim's image flickers, changes, and he's dirty and wild-eyed, maroon robes ripped -
He blinks.
"- ever you decide to do," the man says, completely back to normal, "please be careful about it. And try not to break any more laws."
"No promises there, Professor," Icarus teases, forcing a smile onto his face. In the corner of his eye, he catches movement.
The rest of the first years are moving, heading towards the lake.
"Take care, yeah?" Nathaniel says, "And I hope your mum gets better."
Professor Karim nods and sees them back to the group, before disappearing into the school. Arianna falls back to chat with them.
"What was that about?"
"Has anyone ever told you you're too nosy for your own good?" Nathaniel asks, nudging her fondly.
The journey to the train station is at least twenty-something minutes, but it feels like they arrive in seconds. They say goodbye to Hagrid and cram into the first open compartment they find. The Slytherin girls join them after finding their trunks and then the trains moving and they're eating and chatting and watching the wild terrain shrink and turn tidy and neat; zooming through towns and cities, and the odd little hamlet.
Then they're in London and the smog of the train is filling Icarus' lungs and making his eyes water.
"Aww," Arianna says, lugging her trunk behind her, "are you crying?"
"What? No!"
"Yes, he is," Sergei says, "you know you will see us in a couple of months, right?"
"I'm not crying!" he protests, "It's the -"
"It's ok," Nathaniel adds, swinging an arm around his shoulders, "we'll write to you. Send you pictures and everything."
"...I hate you," he groans.
"No, you don't."
They part ways in increments, and then Icarus is by himself, pushing his trunk through the crowd on a wobbly cart and outside. He stops for a second by the unloading area, to prepare to tow the thing over to the nearby alleyway, and is caught completely off guard when someone grabs one end and starts to lift it.
Severus frowns, eyes hidden behind a pair of expensive looking sunglasses and glamor completely gone.
"Get the other end, then," he grumbles, "the blasted things heavy enough as it is."
Icarus hardly has time to tuck away his surprise before they're carrying it into the shadows and apparating into the lush summer garden of their home.
Severus is still frowning.
Then -
"Are you crying?"