Kapitel 24: 24 More Talking - Headmaster Edition
Meanwhile in the headmaster's office, after Dumbledore had thrown Holly out and sent her to participate in the duelling club, he was left alone with Hermoine.
Dumbledore looked at Hermione with a mix of concern and understanding in his eyes. "Lemon drop?"
She shook her head declining his offer.
"Then why don't you start from the beginning, how you met Lucas."
Hermione took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before she began to recount the events that led to her meeting Lucas. She shared how he approached her during her first year of elementary school, seemingly friendly and eager to be her friend. She mentioned the times he had been there for her, especially during difficult moments when she was feeling down, overwhelmed with schoolwork, was getting bullied or just needed someone to talk to.
"As time went on, I felt like we had a genuine friendship," Hermione explained. "But then, Holly brought up the idea that Lucas might have been using Legilimency on me, and he confirmed it, which made me question everything. I... I don't know what to do now. Holly meant you should look if Lucas really removed any influence he had on me, but I just want to have what we had back.
"After he did it, there was... only... misery... left. I had... nothing." her voice broke and she began crying, tears streaming down her face.
Dumbledore's expression softened with empathy as he listened to Hermione's heartfelt confession. He reached out and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, offering comfort and reassurance.
"I understand how difficult and confusing this must be for you, Hermione," Dumbledore said, his voice gentle. "Discovering that someone you trusted manipulated your emotions can be deeply unsettling. It's natural to feel hurt and betrayed."
He paused for a moment, giving Hermione time to compose herself before continuing, "Legilimency is a powerful skill, and it should only be used responsibly and with consent. It seems that Lucas may have crossed a line, even if his intentions were not malicious."
"I will look into the matter, Hermione, to ensure that he has indeed removed any influence he had on you," Dumbledore assured her. "And I will have a serious conversation with him about the consequences of his actions."
Hermione nodded, appreciating Dumbledore's support. "Thank you, Professor," she said, her voice still trembling with emotion.
"I want you to remember, Hermione, that you are not alone in this," Dumbledore said kindly. "You have friends who care about you, and we will all be here to support you through this difficult time."
He offered her a small smile and said, "Take some time to gather your thoughts and emotions. When you're ready, I encourage you to talk to Lucas and express your feelings honestly. Communication is essential in any friendship, and it may help you both find a path forward."
Hermione nodded again, feeling a sense of relief knowing that Dumbledore was on her side. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," she said, feeling a glimmer of hope that things might eventually be resolved.
With a reassuring pat on her shoulder, Dumbledore said, "You're welcome, my dear. If you don't mind I would now look if Lucas has truly removed everything. Just relax and look into my eyes."
After a while Dumbeldore was done and he had a rough estimate how powerful Lucas was. It scared him a little how skillful he was in Legilimency, reminding him of his last mistake. But it was still in his calculations and he could work with it.
"Good news. I couldn't find any evidence of him still being able to influence you, but I have a question. Did you notice anything different about him lately, how he acts or what he does?"
Hermione nodded, grateful for Dumbledore's efforts in ensuring her well-being. "Thank you, Professor," she said, feeling relieved. She took a moment to think about his question before responding.
"Well, now that you mention it, he has been acting a bit distant lately, not just lately, but ever since he returned after summer," Hermione admitted. "In the past, he used to be more open and friendly, but recently he seems to be keeping to himself more often. And during our last interaction, he appeared rather indifferent and nonchalant, which is unlike the Lucas I used to know."
Dumbledore listened attentively, taking in the information. "It's possible that he's going through some internal struggles," he mused. "Past actions can weigh heavily on a person's conscience. Perhaps he is wrestling with the consequences of his actions and trying to find a way to make amends."
Hermione considered his words. "Do you think he's genuinely sorry for what he did?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"I believe that deep down, he may be," Dumbledore replied. "But remorse is a complex emotion, and it takes time for someone to truly understand the impact of their actions and feel genuine regret. It is a journey he must take on his own."
The headmaster's words brought a mix of emotions to Hermione. She wanted to believe that Lucas was capable of change and that their friendship could be salvaged, but she also feared that the damage had been too great.
"I don't know what to do," Hermione admitted, her voice soft. "Part of me wants to give him a chance, but another part of me is still hurt and unsure if I can trust him again."
"The decision is ultimately yours to make, Hermione," he said kindly. "Follow your heart and listen to your instincts. Take the time you need to heal and reflect on what you truly want. And remember, true friendship is built on trust, honesty, and understanding."
With those words of wisdom, Hermione felt a sense of clarity. She knew that she needed to have an honest conversation with Lucas and see where they could go from there. The journey to rebuilding their friendship would not be easy, but she was willing to explore the possibility.
"Thank you, Professor," she said sincerely. "I will think about it and talk to him."
Dumbledore smiled warmly. "You're welcome, my dear. Remember, no matter the outcome, you have friends who care about you and support you."
As Hermione left the headmaster's office, Dumbledore was already rewriting his plans, calculating what he could do with the information he had just gotten.
----
The next morning at the breakfast table. Lucas was eating when once again Susan approached him. It had taken her the whole morning to gather the courage to come here alone and sit down beside her crush.
Before she could even sit down she heard a cold voice "What do you want?"
"I'm here to talk," Susan said softly, trying to remain composed despite the cold reception. She was anxious and questioning if she had done anything wrong. This Lucas was so much different to the one she had come to know and started to like. "I want to ask you something. Can you teach me?"
Lucas looked at Susan, his cold demeanor immediately disappearing after he blinked once and his usual friendly demeanor came back.
"Is everything ok?" Susan asked nervously fidgeting with her hands.
Lucas nodded, his expression softening further. "Yeah, everything's fine," he replied. "I'm sorry if I seemed a bit off earlier. I guess I just have a lot on my mind."
Susan let out a sigh of relief, glad that Lucas wasn't upset with her. "It's okay," she said, giving him a small smile. "I just wanted to ask you about the dueling club. I saw how skilled you were, and I was wondering if you could teach me some tricks. I want to be strong like my aunt."
Lucas's eyes widened slightly in surprise at Susan's mention of her aunt. He knew that her aunt was Amelia Bones, a highly skilled and respected witch who had been a prominent figure in the Ministry of Magic. She was known for her proficiency in dueling, and it was evident that Susan admired her.
"You want to be strong like your aunt? That's a nice goal," Lucas replied, his demeanor warm and encouraging. "I'd be honored to help you improve your dueling skills. But you have to promise me one thing."
"What's that?" Susan asked, curious.
"You have to promise that you'll take it seriously and put in the effort to practice. Dueling is not just about knowing spells, but also about quick reflexes, strategy, and maintaining a clear mind under pressure," Lucas said earnestly. "It can be dangerous if not done responsibly."
"I promise," Susan said with determination. "I really want to get better, and I'll do whatever it takes to learn."
Lucas smiled, pleased with her response. "Great! We can start with some basic spellcasting and defense techniques. It's essential to have a strong foundation in dueling. Meet me later in the evening in the room we had the duelling club yesterday"
Susan nodded with a bright smile before skipping away happily.
The duelling club was only once a week on friday afternoon, so he could just 'ask' Lockhart if he could use the room on other days to practice a bit.
----
In the Gryffindor common room Hermoine and Holly were sitting at a table in the corner of the room.
"What did Dumbledore say?" Holly asked curiously.
Hermione took a moment to gather her thoughts before replying. "He checked my memories, and he said that Lucas did remove any influence he had on me," she explained. "So, I guess he was telling the truth about that."
Holly looked thoughtful, still processing the information. "But that doesn't change what he did before, right?" she asked cautiously, probing how Hermoine felt about it now.
"No, it doesn't," Hermione replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "I still can't believe it." Silence lingered between them. "Dumbledore also meant I should talk to him, to sort out my feelings."
Holly nodded. "Talking might help, Hermione."
"I know," Hermione replied, "but part of me is scared to confront him. What if he tries to use Legilimency on me again? Or what if he's not truly sorry for what he did?"
"I get it," Holly said sympathetically. "If you need me I will be there for you."
Hermione smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Holly," she said, touched by her friend's support. "Your friendship means the world to me."
As they bathed in the comfortable atmosphere Harry and Ron came downstairs and joined them at the table. Oblivious to their earlier talk Ron opened his mouth. "Now that we are all gathered here, what happened the day before yesterday? Did you find a way to find out what Crabbe and Goyle know?"
Holly exchanged a brief glance with Hermoine before replying, "Not yet, Ron. It's been a bit overwhelming with everything that's been going on lately."
"What did you even do?" aksed Harry full of curiosity.
Holly quick on her feet easily found an excuse. "Do you remember Mr Rubens Winikus, our old tutor?"
It took a while for Harry to remember who she meant. "Oh, yeah that oldy that alway smelled like cauldron grease."
"Yes that... 'oldy'... told us about a special potion, remember?" Holly didn't like the disrespect Harry showed to their potion teacher.
"No." he said while tilting his head.
"*Sigh* what did I even expect, you never payed attention after all. Anyway, Hermoine and I went to the library to find that potion. But it is really complex and dangerous," Holly added, emphasizing the point. "It requires a month of precise brewing and handling."
"A month?" Ron was bewildered, even though he had been learning over a year the art of potionmaking from Snape, he still believed that brewing was simply throwing ingredients into a cauldron and stirring it all together.
Holly nodded, seeing Ron's confusion. "Yes, a month," she confirmed. "This potion is unlike any other we've come across. It requires precise timing, specific ingredients, and careful monitoring throughout the entire brewing process. Even the smallest mistake could have serious consequences."
"When are we starting?" Harry asked not concerned with the potion, because he wouldn't be the one brewing the potion anyway.
"I already sent an owl to the alchemy shops, so as soon as the ingredients arrive we can start, we just need a secluded, possibly hidden, room no one visits."
"I think I have just the room." Hermoine said with a smile having read about Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom in her books.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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