Chapitre 6: 6
"I'm having a serious case of Deja Vu."
Once more Benedict Everest was listening to the spiel of one Dolores Umbridge. This time she crashed the party as The High Inquisitor. With an official badge on her pink cardigan and her characteristic smile she was explaining her divine purpose to the magical world at large.
"We're going nowhere with this." Claire sighed. "What do you think she's going to do?"
"Maybe she'll band all signs of affection. Pretty bad, considering you've been with Edgar for only a month."
Edgar Ross was a seventh year like them, however he was a Hufflepuff.
"Don't even joke about it. It's been hard to get him out of his shell."
"At least you'll have a prepared hiding spot for your outings."
"Ben." She playfully hit him on the shoulder. "That actually does sound pretty nice."
"I'd like a hiding spot for us." Luna munched on her second serving of pudding.
"And pray tell, what for?" The older witch pulled in closer.
"I think you've had enough gossip for today." He pulling the eager witch from the blonde.
Just before the rancid boot licker came to poison Hogwart's soil, a rumor mill about the new pair in Griffindor was spinning in high gear. Harry Potter could be seen going hand in hand with his longstanding friend, Hermione Granger. Not everyone was happy with the news but they still acted mostly civil.
"It's surprising it took that long." Claire said.
"Their stars collided in the big expanse of the black sky. Announcing a new era of happiness."
"I believe you, Luna." The older witch giggled.
"I think its time to get to Charms class. I'll see you later, Luna."
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What hope he had for a quiet Monday was easily shattered by the entering of the blight itself during his first class.
"As I have mentioned I'll be auditing every professor's teaching methods. Please don't mind me." She sat down at the back of the class.
"Okay, children let's continue from where we've ended last time." Flitwick said with his usual cheerful persona.
With the class being more theoretical in nature, Benedict was able to keep an eye on the witch. She seemed to be writing down notes even when the professor had been silent.
The lesson reached its conclusion after two hours. Other then a couple of questions asked by the Inquisitor from time to time, nothing else happened during the lecture.
'She's surprisingly calm. I don't like that.'
Benedict went through his thoughts. Searching if he missed something obvious in her behavior. If he had been paying attention he would've noticed the witch following him into the Defense Against The Dark Art's classroom, where he was supposed to teach the forth years.
"It seems we meet again, Mr. Everest." Her sugary tone unnerved the combined class of Ravenclaws and Griffindors.
"I'm being audited as well? How kind of you." He smiled back.
The class watched as the two clashed with their display of false politeness. In front of the class Luna was sitting with Ginny. The blonde was pleasantly surprised with Benedict teaching them.
"He should've told me." She pouted.
"Maybe he wanted to surprise you." Ginny grinned. "Not that it beats him princess carrying you after the Ball."
"Yes, that was very nice of him." She said wistfully. "And how are you doing?"
"I'll manage." Her friend's face saddened.
While it didn't come as a shock that Hermione and Harry eventually got together. They were very close to one another ever since the unfortunate troll accident during their first year. However she still felt hurt. The small child that growed up with Harry as her knight grieved that it wasn't her.
"Okay class, please settle down." Benedict walked to the teacher's desk.
"Although most of you probably have heard of me by now, I'll introduce myself anyways. My name is Benedict Everest, seventh year and Head Boy of Hogwart's and I'll be your temporary teacher for today."
'It feels strange to stand before a classroom.' He felt the youthful gazes cast upon him.
"Before we start with our lesson, I'd like to check your knowledge." The Griffindor students groaned.
He passed out to everyone sheets containing various questions from all their previous years.
"Don't worry as this isn't going into your grade. I just want to know what needs to be improved after three years of education. You have 40 minutes, starting now."
"Hem, hem."
"Yes, Mrs. Umbridge."
"High Inquisitor Umbridge." She smiled. "I'd like a copy of your test."
"Of course." He obliged. "Here's your test, Mrs. Umbridge."
She noted something down in her notes.
'How to make your life miserable?' He walked back to his desk with a smirk on his face.
"No cheating, Mr. Sharp." The Griffindor boy nervously chuckled after being caught.
The test ended precisely as 40 minutes had passed. The parchments vanished from the students' desks and reappeared in Benedict's arms.
"With that behind us, please place your desks to the side."
"Hem, hem."
"Yes, Mrs. Umbridge."
"Could you please pray tell what are you doing?" She asked, smiling.
"I was going to conduct a series of practical tests. To see the students wand work."
"Is that so." Her small eyes gleamed. "Then unfortunately I must remind you that what you're doing is not compliant with the syllabus of this year."
"Really?" He asked skeptically.
"But of course. This year's the material is focused on the proper and civil behavior of our future generation. And to rely on the Ministry if anything bad happens." She smiled. "Any changes to the syllabus must be submitted before the school term. So please abide by the current guidelines."
"Huh. Well that's great." He grinned.
"Pardon?" She was visibly confused with his nonchalant response.
"You've just made my work easier." He chuckled. "A shame you didn't tell me beforehand. Otherwise why would I have done that test for."
The class stood in shock, not believing their ears and eyes. Was this the same person that stood valiantly in opposition towards the severe overreach of the Ministry?
"He must be joking, right?" Ginny asked her equally perplexed friends.
"He has to be. Otherwise we're goners." Amber Andrew's from Griffindor whispered.
"Do you seriously understand the situation?" Umbridge didn't like that she was denied something she wanted so badly.
"It's crystal clear." He packed the papers into his bag. "However I think you misunderstood something."
"And that is?"
"I never wanted this position at all. Quite frankly you've made me one happy trooper. Ha ha ha." He let out a hearty laugh.
"So you will comply?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Oh absolutely. However, I hate useless stuff, so I won't be teaching them anything from that abomination you call a textbook."
"Then how can you say that you'll conform to the rules?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Oh that'll be super easy, barely an inconvenience."
Benedict took out his wand and with a swish he summoned a thin script. After tapping the small book it started duplicating. Every copy that materialized this way was then sent into the hands of the students.
"I've summarized the book and kept the most important nuggets of knowledge that uphold the guidelines."
Luna opened the handwritten book. Every chapter was redacted to the bare minimum. Cutting almost 90 procent of unnecessary gibberish.
"Oh and please read chapter 1 and 2 for the next lesson as we'll have a multiple choice test. But don't worry, I've lined what I'll be asking. As for now you're all dismissed."
"You can't do this!" Umbridge's temper was flaring out.
"Which part exactly?" He looked at her with boredom visible in his eyes.
"This, the desecration of the brilliant Slinkhard. Not to mention the unsanctioned dismissal of the class."
"Whoa, easy there. One at a time." He raised his hands. "Desecration? I've read the book and took out the most vital aspects of his teachings. So please don't slander my good intentions. I've made it easier for the youth to comprehend the vastness of his wisdom."
The students watched this with gobsmacked expressions. Umbridge on the other hand looked as if she was starting to believe the youth's words.
"But, but..." She stuttered
"As for dismissing the students, I'm afraid that I don't understand. From what I've read in the guidelines I have that authority."
"I suppose you do." She calmed down.
"Perfect. I'm glad we could resolve our differences without any issue."
"If this is the end of class then I'll excuse myself." Umbridge grabbed her notes.
"Of course, I wouldn't dare to take up more of your time then needed."
The High Inquisitor left the class in a daze. The silent until now students started to clap. They were awed by his handling of the problematic ministry employee.
"Why are we clapping?" Ginny was fuming. "We're still not getting the education that we need."
She walked up to Benedict.
"I thought you're more than that stupid brother of mine. But it seems I was mistaken."
"I don't care what kind of misconceptions you've had about me, Ms. Weasley. I've never been a people pleaser nor will I start being one."
"Can't you do anything?" Ernesto Bardi from Ravenclaw pleaded.
"Yeah, how can we otherwise learn spells?" Russell Sharp complained.
"And please tell me, what exactly is stopping you, Mr. Sharp?"
"Well you, sir. You said that you won't teach us."
"Really? And when did I do that?"
"You've given into her demands." Ginny said with a growing suspicion that something was wrong.
"I'm only following the rules and so should you."
"But you can't teach us during class." Amber remarked.
"That's true."
"Then can you teach us now?" Luna Lovegood suddenly asked.
She saw a sly smile forming on the wizard's face. She had guessed right. The truth was hidden in plain sight all along.
"Why certainly Luna. I'm the Head Boy after all. It my duty to share my knowledge with those eagerly seeking it." He winked.
"You, you have tricked us all." Ginny's eyes were wide opened by how shameless this man was.
"I wouldn't say that I have tricked you per se." He chuckled.
"So what will we do during these non lessons?"
Benedict stashed the desks to the side, giving them much needed space.
"Let's start with a simple review of what you've learned last year and then we'll go on from there."
------
For over an hour Benedict corrected their wand movements and postures for casting spells. Although it felt like a chore, the students still found the experience worth their time.
"I believe this will be enough for today. Remember to practice your basic flicks as swishes. You're still not at the level to ignore them completely." Benedict Everest smiled, seeing the tired students.
"He's one drill sergeant." Ginny was rubbing her sore wrist.
"I can't wait when we'll start learning fighting spells and fighting." Russell was pumped up.
"I'm sorry, but I'll have to burst your bubble." Benedict overheard the conversation.
"Why is that?"
"I'm technically not a teacher, so I'm not allowed to carry on mock duels. Teaching you the incantations is fine however."
"Better that then nothing I suppose."
Benedict's comment sucked out some joy out of them. Especially from those more battle oriented, like Ginny and Russell.
The crowd dispersed, everyone was leaving for lunch. Benedict stayed behind to clean up the mess. When he finally got everything back to its original state he could see a lonely figure waiting at the door.
"You shouldn't have waited for me." The lovely blonde locks of hair brought a smile to his face.
"I wanted to go with you." Luna looked at him in the eyes as he approached her.
"As always I'm flattered that you still want to hang out with me." He patted her head. "How's your arm?"
"It needs your undivided attention to make the pain go away."
The wizard chuckled before taking the dainty palm of the witch into his hands. He made circles with the tips of his fingers, gently massaging the sore muscles. Luna couldn't help but blush when she saw the care in his eyes.
"Is it better?"
"Mmm."
"Then we'll stop for now. If it'll still hurt you can visit me at my office later."
"And if it doesn't, can I still come for more?"
"Ha ha. Of course. Your presence is always welcomed. But for now let's get something to eat. Do you want to go to the Great Hall or the kitchens this time?"
"I'd like to see Twinky."
"Kitchens it is then. I'm in for some early noon pizza."
"I'd like some as well."
They've stopped walking in front of a mirror. After making sure no one was around Benedict said the password.
"Chatterbug."
His mirror reflection nodded and reached towards the nob that could only be found in the mirrored world. With a twist the mirror was slowly replaced with a hidden staircase.
"This is one of the secret passages only allowed for Head Boys and Girls."
"You know many things." Luna walked in first, curious of the new never seen before corridor. She was taken by the depictions of magical creatures painted on the white stone walls.
"I must, so that I can protect that smile for forever more." He whispered as the entrance disappeared behind him.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone