บท 17: Chapter 17: Interlude Year 2.

Life was hardly fair.

A young boy, barely out of kindergarten came back to his house. He ignored the offensive hurt in his chest he came to identify as envy, upon seeing other children being brought back home by their parents, telling them of their less than thrilling day with innocent mirth only the youngest could muster.

'It doesn't matter' He thought, dragging himself through the streets 'We live close to school.'

The same excuse he gave to homeroom teacher, the same one he offered the more inquisitive of his classmates. Its veracity was undeniable, yet human truth, as his young mind came to understand, was often a layered, nuanced mix of both facts and lies.

He passed by Rocky, the rather intimidating wolfhound of Mr. Sanders; his neighbour. The dog was a huge beast, but he found it to be friendlier than most humans and more truthful than any of them.

"What's with you, boy?" He asked the well-trained hound, scratching the back of its ears in a way that should have turned it into a comfortable, furry goo.

Yet today there was none of that, it stood alert as it fixated an ordinary, if slightly unkempt house. Rocky was a perceptive boy, and his current behaviour wouldn't matter if not for a single fact.

'That's our house…' thought the child, his muddled mine struggled to guide him.

The wet, sticky feeling of the dog licking his hand brought him out of his stupor. However, it did little to help the heavy pit that was his stomach or the dizziness that assaulted him as the blood left his face.

He rushed toward the door of his house, hastily opening the door as his breath hitched from the lack of sounds in the residence.

"Mom!" he called out to no avail as he ran to her bedroom, hoping with all his heart to find a gentle smile to ease his worries…

....

"…Damn it" cursed Magnus, as he shakily got up from his bed.

His thoughts were a mess, his heart threatened to burst out of his chest as all warmth decided to forsake his blood. He grabbed the bottle of water at his side in a practised movement, helping himself with the beverage to cool down his heart and settle his stomach.

Magnus sighed, as he reached below his pillow to grab his wand; which he kept there in an effort to prepare for any unlikely assault in his room at the Leaky Cauldron.

A quick charm cleaned his sweaty body, though it held none of the comfort a warm shower would offer. He put himself back to sleep, starting the day at such an hour would be unpractical and highly dangerous given the nature of his studies.

And so did Hypnos claim him once more, this time having the mercy not to throw him to Morpheus's realms where he would surely find naught that could please him.

-BREAK-

In the last week of August, Minerva McGonagall in all her emerald-clad robes and stern-faced glory went to the Leaky Cauldron; though she sought out no Whisky that day, for she had a most pleasant duty to accomplish.

"Professor McGonagall!" Came a joyous voice she worked hard to earn from the aloof student.

The rather loud clicking of dress boots heralded the arrival of a most peculiar Ravenclaw, striding with an easy elegance that was only sublimed by the barely contained happiness their retrouvailles brought him.

"It's good to see you again, Professor." Magnus greeted, his face brightening in ways no dishonesty could mimic.

"Likewise, Mr. Arran." She gave him the slightest of smiles. "I trust that these vacations did not stop your progress."

"Never." He said, a familiar grin on his face.

Though it wasn't on his face that she saw it; she'd know, his smiles were few and far between. the middle-aged witch could not for the life of hers remember where she'd seen it.

"Good, I can assure you this year will be more challenging than you can imagine." The severe glint in her eyes could make many a student squirm.

Most students would be more than displeased by the information or at very least worried by the difficulties they'd face, her boy would have none of that. The way his face brightened even more, amber eyes shining in expectations as he doubtlessly imagined the advanced, complex subjects she'd teach him; it was one more thing that sets him apart from other students.

'One more reason to love him.' Thought the witch, forgetting herself for a moment.

"Wouldn't have it any other way." He chirped.

"Good morning Professor, Magnus." Greeted the keeper of the Leaky Cauldron, as he cleaned a cup in attempt at busying himself. Magic made inn keeping and bar managing awfully easy at times, so he had to find ways make it look like hard work.

"Good morning, Tom." Replied Magnus, while she offered him a nod.

McGonagall was puzzled at their familiarity, the boy and the wizard shouldn't have talked for too long before her arrival, certainly not enough to be on first name basis.

But Magnus wouldn't be Magnus if he didn't manage to surprise her no matter how much she changed her standards to accommodate his madness, and this meeting was no exception.

"Do tell me if I'm wrong." She held back a sigh as she rubbed her nose, already feeling the headache to come "But are you saying that you managed to create an account in the muggle world?"

"I am." He answered, his lips quirking up.

"And you invested your meagre wealth with enough skill to obtain a comfortable amount of riches in span of two months?" She would need some tea to deal with that.

"Yes, I did." Amber eyes were shining, finding great joy at her expense.

"Riches you used to finance your studies, you subsequently not only took the risk of dabbling in alchemy without supervision but somehow managed to be successful in it?" A calming draught would be welcome at this point.

"Yes, You're precisely right." He flashed her an innocent smile that had no right to appear in the face of such a fiend. "So, should we go buy these supplies?"

Forget about teas and calming potions, she needed whiskey.

-BREAK-

"This is a travesty!" shouted Magnus, as they left Flourish and Blotts.

He might have expected the outcome of this year's recruitment, might've know about the fraud that would stain the year with his presence and condemn him to self-study. But to witness the outrageous prices put on the useless fictions of the fraudulent narcissistic was an exceptionally revolting experience.

"I know that he is an incompetent, but there was no other applicant." Appeased him an equally disgusted McGonagall.

"But how could anyone listen to his idiocy?" Magnus said "Look at this, he said that he defeated two vampires with his bare hands."

"…this is indeed, a travesty." Conceded the witch, for whom the antiquated language was more suitable than the twelve-year-old who once lived in the damned twenty first century.

"Have you looked at the price? His books cost more than the rest of the whole curriculum, how are the less wealthy families supposed to manage? They are mostly first editions, so they can't buy second hand tomes to save money." The young wizard said.

"The alternative would be closing the school because we were in want of a defence professor, choices needed to be made." Responded the teacher "And by buying second hands books in the rest of the curriculum, poor households can save up enough money to acquire them."

"I know, Professor. But it doesn't mean that I have to like it, we've already had an abysmal defence teacher last year…" Magnus said, a frown marring his features.

"Neither do I, Mr. Arran, which is why you now have detention for the rest of the year." Minerva said.

"What?" Magnus barely stopped himself from falling down, his voice breaking slightly as he lost composure.

"You are to serve detention with me for the rest of the year, it might sadly take you for some important classes such as defence, but your insolence must be punished." She explained, her face calm and voice level; but her eyes held a glint of mischief.

"And what insolence am I being punished for?" Magnus asked, amber eyes mirroring her own brown irises.

"I am sure we will find something."

"Thank you, Professor." Said the student, as they walked through the cobblestoned road with the rest of the wizards and witches passing by.

"Nonsense." She offered him a smile, which he answered in kind; much to her pleasure.

'It is the duty of an educator to nurture her students to the best of their potential.' Minerva thought, as she looked down at the sweet, honest smile on Magnus's face.

'And oh, does he have the potential…'

"Oh, my! Aren't you an adorable little boy!" Madam Malkins said, as she found her amber eyed client who would once more get fitted for robes at her store. Though this time, he ordered the finest silks with proper enchantments as well as some more wizarding clothing to complete his muggle wardrobe.

What didn't change, however, was the state of his cheeks after the sordid affair. Neither did McGonagall's stern amusement at his pain, but he did get better at noticing it.

'Only a couple more years' Magnus thought 'A few more years and I'll be free from the curse of childish cuteness.'

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Hey guys it's Uncle Sheo!

Here's a small interlude chapter to keep you on your toes for the madness to come, a bit of character development and a glimpse of Magnus's psyche.

I am currently doing research on improving my writing skills, which honestly works wonder in rooting out the more unsightly aspects of my story. This puts me in a position where i have to ask you; my dear, batshit crazy mortals, about your opinion.

Would you rather view the story through Magnus in first POV like in the first chapters, or continue with the close third i'm doing? I am fine with writing both, though i can't write a good omniscient POV; i ain't no Jane Austen to rock it.

The story will most likely slow down, as you start exploring the wonders of magic and the dangers to come side by side with Magnus; meaning there will be very little time-skips. Chapter length will also change for the better, i am at doubling the standard size i upload (without author note.) while the chapter updates will be a once every two days, with some surprises along the way.

The coming improvement in writing quality will be dedicated to fruits, a very deranged...i mean wonderful reader of mine. I am absolutely not doing this because i am threatened, i swear! (whispers: can i go home now?)

Peace and Cheese!