Bab 21: Heart-to-heart conversations. (Part 1)
My native school met me with dementors. Immediately felt the difference with Sambacana. About other feelings, you can not say anything. Although, Hogwarts on internal feelings has changed. Definitely, I became more confident in my abilities and abilities.
The distribution passed me by. Everyone, not just me, was morally depressed. From time to time, there was a faint round of applause. Dumbledore announced that this year Hogwarts is guarded by dementors and drove away the "cart", about the light that can be found even in the darkest times where you do not expect. Perhaps it's about Sirius Black, who was not a supporter of Voldemort and a traitor at all. But then it turns out that Dumbledore knows?
During the feast, Attwood tried to engage me in conversation, but I had nothing to think about. To all of his "Hey, Blair, how's it going in France?" questions, I replied in short, choppy sentences, and he quickly fell behind.
I was a bit of a jerk when I met Potter. Incomprehensible phrases and mysterious meaningful revelations, partly similar to prophetic delusions. I couldn't help but draw parallels with Dumbledore. That's exactly what I was trying to look like, Potter. I was trying to create a certain aura of mystery around me, and some eccentricity was quite appropriate. Perhaps I got a little clumsy. Still, this behavior is somewhat out of my usual image, usually I am straight as a stick, simple as a sickle. But, no matter how much I messed up, it rolled, a certain impression on Potter and her team I made. Even the impenetrable Weasley listened to me in serious moments, as the Banderlogs listened to Kaa. Perhaps I shouldn't have revealed my personal secret, I'm not even sure that Potter understood and appreciated such trust.
In a conversation with the golden trio, I did not defend Sirius very much, but I was able to create a certain mood, now Potter has an interest in me. She, as in the canonical history, is interested in the past, her parents. Now she knows I have something to tell her. As for Sirius, everything will fit itself when the time comes. Now Potter was being told all sorts of things, not telling anything much, intimidated by the monstrous Black who had killed a bunch of Muggles.
What was Potter herself like?
Henrietta was not a spoiled child, but rather, on the contrary, she lacked the care and the usual human warmth. From a brief conversation on the train, it became clear to me that the Dursleys ' attitude towards her is quite canonical, with some minor adjustments regarding her gender. Still, a boy would get more punches than a girl. And Vernon, if not quite a fool, did not allow Dudley too much in relation to the girl, it is somehow unmanly.
In appearance, Potter was quite pretty, about the same level as Granger. Who is more beautiful is determined solely by the amateur. Someone likes dark ones, someone likes brown ones, and so on. And Potter's green eyes were actually so remarkable. Everyone told Potter herself that she looked like her father, only her mother's eyes, but that's not true. Her face was more like Lily's, and her father had given her unruly dark hair and poor eyesight.
The approach to the golden trio I decided to look through the Weasleys, oddly enough. Ron Weasley was quite recognizable to me, the same manners as in the film, just as "courteous" and "diplomatic", "pleasant" in all respects. It's hard to imagine that his friendship with Potter was pushed through by the headmaster. Most likely, it was enough to make a couple of hints and listen to the parents, so that Ron himself made the necessary steps. The fact that Ron is rather clumsy in communication and, in general, boorish, did not prevent the establishment of friendly relations in any way. Ron's main trait is laziness. From this, we can draw some conclusions about Potter herself. But for me, Ron was a loophole in this company. He was interested in talking to a more mature guy who wasn't trying to make fun of him like the twins, or lecturing him and making fun of everything like Percy.
Establishing a relationship with Potter directly is also not easy. She was wary of me. A lot of Harry Potter fans have already got her pretty tired, and if at first such an attitude towards her caused embarrassment, now irritation and anger.
I was not intrusive in the literal sense, I managed to fill the pauses in the conversation with songs and suggestions of interesting topics for conversation, so the impression was rather positive. My departure from this company had to happen on a high note, the appearance of the dementor helped me in this situation, raising the moment to an incredible height. Professor Lupin was supposed to get the whole bonus, but it turned out that his intervention was a little late, and I simply robbed him in this situation.
"Blair," Attwood nudged my shoulder — " the feast is over, let's go." Without answering, I got up and went with the others.
"You're too depressed," the headman chided me.
Attwood was the head boy, not Davis. There was still a slim chance for Davis to become the captain of the faculty team, but I could already see that it wasn't going to happen. I didn't feel particularly happy or openly gloating about it, but I did note a certain amount of justice in this.
I muttered back to Attwood about dementors and fatigue, and fell asleep. He still had things to do with the freshmen and the dean, and I had things to do and talk about until tomorrow.
My planned conversations with Attwood and Diggory, my magical projects on the motorcycle and the golem, are all important, but the most important thing right now for me was getting the status of an adult wizard. The times of turmoil in the magical society of Britain were approaching.
"Heh... I didn't even make a spare wand for myself," he reproached himself as he fell asleep, "and I didn't learn the patronus."
Passing the SOV after the fifth year did not guarantee recognition for adults, such were the nuances in the laws, it was still necessary to confirm the ministry. There were several ways to get the status of an adult de facto wizard: reach the age of 17 full years, confirm the status of a lord, become a master in the magical discipline.
My plans were to become a master potion maker and a master of enchantment, and I could also try to take up skills in transfiguration and artefactorics, but this is much more difficult.
If I was sure of Flitwick when it came to enchantment, then Snape was doing the potion — making at Hogwarts. To go cap in hand to Snape not like it, but I had to. I did not delay the matter and went to him immediately. It was necessary to make it clear whether he would teach me.
"What makes you think I'm going to teach you, Blair?" "What is it?" the professor asked, folding his arms and looking at me appraisingly, as if he had never seen me before.
In Sarbacane had some success in teaching your discipline — flexible I replied. — Perhaps you've heard of the new mana potion?"
"A very promising development in magical medicine," said Snape. — What do you have to do with it?"
"I gave it to Fleur Delacour, — I said —" but we actually created it together.
Snape believed my words, it was obvious from his thoughtful look, with difficulty, but he believed me. He walked around his office, considering the offer. I could only stand still and not interfere.
"It takes a lot of money to train, Blair," the professor said. — I can't waste the school's teaching supplies on you as a personal student. In addition, I will have to do some training work for you. If you are willing to take the apprentice's oath to me — "said Snape, deciding after a short pause —" then I will take you as an apprentice."
I wasn't going to make that vow to Snape.
— I have money for training, sir — " I hastened to assure the potions master. — A simple student contract is more than acceptable to me. I can't take the apprentice's oath.
Snape grimaced at the news. The chance to get a free slave was slipping between his fingers.
"The training costs ten thousand galleons a year," Snape said, still hoping I wouldn't have the money I needed, " and it would also take the same amount to buy the necessary training materials and potion ingredients." Perhaps in France you have already cooked something from the mandatory program, but I do not intend to make allowances and with me you will go through the entire program again. I want to be sure of my student, sure that you will not disgrace me.
— I have the money, sir, "I said firmly," and I agree with the training program. We'll sign the contract.
Snape didn't really need the students. To confirm his title as a master potion maker, it was enough for him, like other teachers of large magic schools, to write a review of someone else's work once a year, or another short article. He worked by profession, what other evidence is needed? The amount of the contract was a bit too high, but if Snape really decided to run me through the entire program, then maybe that's what the costs will be.
If I had known then that all my fears and fears about learning from Snape would come true, I would have thought more, but the contract was signed.
"You can give me the money for the training personally," said the potioneer. You will make additional expenses yourself during the training process, when I will give you assignments and tasks.
I could only nod my agreement. The potion master immediately assigned me a time for individual lessons and puzzled me with small tasks. The money has not yet been paid, and the study has begun.
If I made an agreement with the potion maker right away, then I didn't talk to Flitwick until a week later. As expected, there were no problems, but the money had to be spent again, and the contract was signed. According to the dean, you can get the title of master without money investments only for years of service or for an indisputable contribution, which is approximately equivalent. This is how they became master healers, having worked in the profession for a long time, and this is how they became master artefactors.
"You will have to participate in the championship," the half — goblin explained, " dueling will allow you to prove yourself, to show others. It is unlikely that you will be allowed to participate in the general competitions just like that, but nothing will prevent you from taking part in the demonstration performances. And there is no direct prohibition-there is no age limit. This leaves some loopholes.
— Do I have a chance to win? I asked naively.
"Win?" "I don't think so," Flitwick said, " but any prize money would be an achievement for you." To get some prestige, you just need to get to the semifinals. I nodded, indicating that I understood. - The portkey costs money, for participation in the championship, you also need to pay a fee, - the half-goblin began to list. — I think six thousand galleons for a year's training will be enough."
All I had to do was agree, and so learning charms came out cheaper than potions.
After the contracts were signed, I had almost no time left again. Potions tormented me on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, and Flitwick had me on Monday nights and all Saturday nights. The potion maker, as promised, ran me through the entire program, forcing me to brew even the simplest potions ten times or more. If it was still possible to understand the potions of medical use, then there were questions with the rest. I also brewed a mana potion, but this time with improvements from Snape. The Potions master, despite everything, was very skeptical of my abilities. All that changed when I was introduced to his research in hemerologies plants. My project "Royal Blood", to improve the mana potion, he really liked it. Actually, after that, he promised me the title of master.
The chimerology of plants itself was not so difficult, the difficulties in it were to preserve or instill useful properties in plants so that they remained viable. I began to get something almost immediately, as soon as I understood the principle of mass character. The more samples involved in the experiment, the more likely it is to get a viable one. I got the royal blood by the winter, the acceleration of growth rules.
Fleur has already become a master and sent me a boastful letter about it. Snape and I had to seriously improve our old recipe and simplify it as much as possible.
Flitwick chased me with duels and charms. I managed to infect him with the idea of a dueling golem. What I did together with Fleur, all these developments turned out to be quite weak in the field of dueling. Yes, I made this wooden dummy and released it in the rescue room. The fool didn't know how to act flexibly, he could only attack and retreat. The spells available to him were weak, and there was no evasion. He also told Flitwick about the motorcycle. We went to Hagrid's together, to see Sirius ' work, and to do the same, even better, at home. My experience was also useful.
In London, we bought a motorcycle with my money. I chose the most beautiful one, I was not interested in the technical characteristics, it would still have to be completely redone with eternal transfiguration, strengthened with runes, tempered in potions, enchanted with each spoke.
Something has been decided about the goblins. I had to communicate with these short people several times, and knowing the past of my family, I did not trust them, rather, I was afraid of possible aggression.
I was released to the bank with Snape as my teacher under contract. And then the goblins asked me to talk. After exchanging glances with Snape and getting permission from him, I followed him to the meeting room, or whatever this office is called. The office was quite recognizable from my dream-visions, but the goblin was completely unfamiliar.
"Mr. Blair," Goblin said to me, " you have a fairly large account in our bank, and I would like to clarify our relationship.
I had expected the worst, that the goblin would now announce to me the debts of my relatives and the write-off of funds or something worse, but the situation was different.
"Your ancestors had a relationship with Gringotts Bank before," goblin said. -Yes, yes, do not be surprised, you had ancestors who were wizards. You may not be of the old bloodline, but the third generation runs along the lowest line of pureblood-that's if you're interested.
So, "the goblin continued —" back then, a long time ago, your grandfather was unable to pay his debts, and a conflict arose, as a result of which the debt was transferred to third parties. Everything was within the framework of the contract. I officially declare that the bank has no further claims against you and your family. All the arrangements for your contribution remain unchanged. Do you have any claims against the bank? "What is it?" asked the goblin, who had not introduced himself, after a short pause.
On the one hand, I had a claim, and I wanted to reserve the right to revenge, but on the other, I was absolutely not ready to present this right now. If I say this now, I will be killed, with some probability, and if I refuse now, I will refuse forever.
The blood was pounding in my temples. I couldn't refuse, even if I wanted to, even if I didn't know who to take revenge on, but I couldn't let go of such a hit-and-run either. I would have been happy to refuse, to protect myself right now, but my magic and obscurus were against such a decision. Darkness was beginning to swirl around me, as yet only in the form of a light, dark vapor. I was about to act, knowing there was no other way, when the goblin noticed something in me and spoke again.
— Before you do anything, I can swear to you that the previous manager who handed over the debt to the collectors is already dead — "the goblin smiled a little ingratiatingly, without showing his teeth," you don't need to take revenge on him. The goblin's statement worked. I felt my magic settle down... I also realized that the goblin was afraid of me.
— I don't have any complaints about the bank right now, " I said to the goblin, already realizing that I had managed to make a certain impression on this employee. The goblins probably knew something about the obscuras, or the clerk had mistaken the effect for something else.
Snape waited for me to leave the conference room. He didn't ask me anything.
While I signed up for an apprenticeship with the grim potion maker and the half-goblin, while I put my projects into practice, the canon went on as usual. To me, after seeing that Harry Potter in this version of the story turned out to be Henrietta, it was quite easy to decide to interfere with the canon.
The programmer's principle: "Does it work? The canon is a working version of events, which in many ways suited me. Why climb if Harry Potter can handle himself without great wisdom of popdance? Another thing is if Harry turned out to be Henrietta Potter, and the known version of events is broken initially, well, except for the absence of himself in the whole story. Taking this assumption into account, my interference in the canon no longer seems fundamental, perhaps, just without my intervention, events will go down the wrong path, and Voldemort will win. Now I was not afraid to bend the canon in the right direction.
The next notable moment was the lesson with the boggart. There was nothing special about Lupin's training program. Every Hogwarts graduate goes through such a lesson, the whole difference is in the moment of such a lesson, for some it takes place in the second year, for others in the fifth. Dumbledore was trained by this system, and then he taught it himself. Now the same system is used by those whom he taught.
At the ZOTI lesson, we were met by a black cabinet that looked like a coffin, from which we could hear knocking, rustling and other similar sounds.
- Do you know what's in there? Professor Lupin asked.
"There's a boggart in there, sir," said Christian Gill, the Hufflepuff guy.
"That's right —" said the professor. - Today you will show one by one how you can cope with the boggart, for this you need to…
The professor told me about the ridiculus spell and the features of the boggarts. The students began to approach the cabinet in turn and face their fears face to face. It was my turn.
I'm going to see my fear, I thought.
The professor released the boggart. A black spot floated out of the cabinet, as if ink had been spilled in the water. The spot swirled and shimmered in itself, gradually approaching its goal.
Of course, I assumed that my fear would be obscurus, but still I was not sure. My fear might as well have been Voldemort or Dumbledore, spiders, or some unknown chupacabra.
There was complete silence in the classroom. It seemed to me that the boggart obscure obscures all sounds. There was a strange lingering feeling, from which you can not move, but it was fear, as such, and there was no. The obscurus was frightening, but it was also strangely attractive, its shimmering effects hypnotic.
"Blair —" I heard Lupin say. He pointed at the Boggart with his chin. - Cast a spell.
Easy to say, but hard to do. How can you make a cloud of darkness funny?
"Rediculus, — I said, using the formula against the boggarts. A light rift appeared in the cloud of darkness, which took the form of a wry smile. But the result in a strange way made boggart even scarier, it was a very crooked smile, and the edges "flowed" turning into teeth. The class backed away from the boggart with a gasp, but I was still amused.
Lupin used the patronus spell to force Bogart back into the closet and called a five-minute break.
— What was that?" Lupin asked me.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but I can't tell you," I said.
"You told young Potter something on the train," the professor persisted. Cedric was standing next to me, but the professor gave him a look that told him to leave us alone. Cedric sighed and moved away, leaving us alone.
— When you spoke of the dark, did you speak of this creature?" Lupin asked.
"You're very perceptive, Professor, but I can't tell you that," I said. "I'm sure you'll share your observations with Headmaster Dumbledore?"
I understand — " I didn't let the professor interrupt. I'm sure he would have started saying some nonsense, like "never" or "for the common good", but I knew all this without him, so I continued, " the school administration should know about some of the characteristics of the students, so it's easier to influence them for their own good.
Lupin just nodded, confirming my words.
"Class, attention, break is over —" Lupin announced. "Who's next?"
After this incident, I expected a call to the Director. Surely he could have guessed something before, but now he had some proof, and unlike Lupin, he would surely be able to identify what kind of cloud of darkness it was.
But even earlier, the director had to talk to the heroine of magical Britain. The conversation with Potter took place on her initiative. Even if I had enough free time, I should have expected a move on her part. Although in my mind, I had devious plans to increase my influence over the golden trio.
"Hey, Arrakis, isn't it?" Potter asked me, and I noted her rather rude upbringing.
She caught me right after dinner, when I already had free time from all my activities and duties. Well, except for the ones that the headman put on me and I couldn't shake them off.
"Come on, Potter," I said, taking her elbow, which embarrassed her a lot —
I took her to the rescue room, it would be useful for her to know this place, because Voldemort's horcrux is kept there. I made this decision earlier, having estimated all the pros and cons.
On the way, the Heroine of all magical Britain tried to escape or to protest, but I stopped all her attempts at sabotage.
"Wait a bit, we'll be there soon."
"This is the third time we've been here," Potter said.
"That's the way it should be," I said, pointing to a door that appeared out of nowhere. - You need to pass this place three times while holding a certain desire in your head. Want to relax, then there is a cosy living room with comfortable sofas, you want to practice — you will have room for training, if to hide something you want, it will be the warehouse of lost and forgotten things.
So what did you want to talk about? I asked, settling into one of the comfortable chairs in the lounge.
— What do you know about Black?" Henrietta asked bluntly, surveying her surroundings.
"I went to Hogwarts, was a friend of your parents, was convicted of murdering a bunch of Muggles, and was put in Azkaban —" I recited the well-known facts, and then began to give out less well-known information. - The trial was very quick. The main evidence against him was his capture in the act and his own admission of guilt, after which no one else began to understand anything.
— Isn't that enough?" Potter asked, raising her voice emotionally. — What else is there to prove if he confessed everything?!
— That's about what all wizards think, — I said, looking her calmly in the eye — " but, for example, Muggles, despite the confession, still, even if the suspect confesses, conduct an investigation, appoint confrontations, investigative experiments with a detailed analysis of what happened. I'm not saying that magicians have their own ways to determine the chain of events at the scene of an accident — " I remembered some powder that in the next few days can show the shadows of magic being created and the mental prints of people, if you do not erase the traces on purpose. — There was no investigation, and the whole inquiry was probably limited to one simple question.
"What question?
" is one of the two simplest and most difficult questions at the same time, " I smiled at Henrietta. — Who is to blame for this?
— But if it wasn't his fault, why did he confess?" - the main character of the magical world asked the following question.
"Imagine, Potter, that you are the keeper of the secret of Fidelius, but somehow the enemy was able to get the key from you —" I explained simply, " your friends are dying at the hands of the enemy. Who is to blame? Of course, Black blames himself for everything.
— What kind of key?" Potter asked.
- It is possible to pass under the cover of Fidelius if you are guided by the guardian or if you receive a key, for example, a note with the exact address of the hidden place, a coldography or a photo taken by the guardian.
Potter left the meeting all pensive. I was hoping that the surveillance would stop, because I was already noticing strange sounds from the "empty places".
I definitely like this world better than the one I used to live in. There, in another life, I had to fight for something that was already mine, I had to prove something that was kind of obvious. It was not always possible to convince, defend and prove. The honest way in that world was originally harder, as the Jews say ," The life of an honest man cannot be easy." The winner faster and more often turned out to be a liar who initially does not plan to fulfill obligations and pay off debts, acting on the principle: take more, and give less.
Why did I remember that?
Women!
While waiting for a call from the headmaster, I was able to form an opinion about all the beauties of Hogwarts.
Oh, no, no, those principles weren't just about relationships with women. The whole world was built on these principles. What you want, you will not get. What you love, you will lose. A disgusting feeling of powerlessness and futility of their work.
In this world, I got what I wanted, what I deserved. Fleur suited me perfectly in every sense. Of course, after learning that Potter is a girl, I had the idea of a possible match with her. Still, such an alliance could solve many problems if Sirius did not recognize me as the heir. But Potter herself was afraid of me now, and the option for me personally was no better than the option with Fleur.
I had the opportunity to look at all the Hogwarts beauties from the Potter course, and even talk to some of them. Perhaps the Patil sisters were the most beautiful. Here they were identical twins, identical as two peas in a pod. The next most beautiful in my ranking are the Greengrass sisters. Next in descending order of beauty and brightness were Zhou Chang, Potter, and Granger. The others in my line were more cute than beautiful.
After a short conversation with the Patil sisters, I realized that I was not suitable for their husbands because of my low status in the society of wizards of Britain. No, no, they didn't send me down from heaven to earth with rude phrases, they were gentle and courteous in their communication, but they made it clear...
"Dad hopes to marry one of us to a pureblood wizard with a famous name," Padma said when it was appropriate.
"My father wants to achieve a certain status in the society of British magicians," Parvati sighed, " and my sister and I have certain hopes.
All this was said with such an intonation that it was clear from the words: You're a good guy, Blair, but…
Perhaps the Patil sisters were wrong. After talking, I realized that no one had told them about my origin. If they had known that I was Black by blood, I might have been worthy of them, but no one was in a hurry to tell them these secrets. After thinking about it, I decided not to change anything in these circumstances.
The attempt to talk to Daphne Greengrass was a complete failure. Faced with complete disregard, he was forced to retreat. However, some consequences in the form of an unusual excitement of my old "friend", Bletchley, followed. But the situation was calmed down by Warrington, who, by the way, became the headman of Slytherin.
"Bletchley, they'll sort this out without you," Cassius said, and Miles immediately became a shadow of himself, a rather vicious shadow, it should be noted.
"We don't want any trouble here, Blair," Cassius told me, " but you don't want any trouble yourself.
— I just wanted to talk, — I said calmly, looking into Cassius ' eyes defiantly.
"No, Blair, it's not forbidden," Warrington grinned, " but there are a lot of nasty people on Slytherin who like to mind their own business. Bear in mind it! If I can straighten Bletchley out, "the headman of Slytherin pointed at the named one," then, for example, I won't straighten Malfoy out. Knowing your character, Blair, this could turn into a problem for everyone. "No problem, Blair," Warrington said in a pleading tone.
"I understand you, Warrington," I said, and without saying good-bye, I went about my business.
One thing I learned from trying to talk to Greengrass was that promises must be kept. If I had any desire to forgive Bletchley and not challenge him to a deadly duel, it was forgotten.
Of the beauties, there were still Zhou Chang, who already communicated with Cedric Diggory and Hermione (Hermine) Granger, who for some reason did not perceive me as a possible couple and either froze off or tried to teach, which in turn froze me already.
The fact that I considered the other girls as a possible replacement for Fleur — so nothing with Fleur is fully defined, well, I look very much like Sirius.
So, after talking with whom it turned out, I waited for the director's call.
"Mr. Blair," Minerva McGonagall said, catching me in the hallway, " the headmaster wants to see you urgently." Password: licorice toffee.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone