章節 47: Year Two - Chapter Twenty-Two

The exams would happen all the same. Even though I was a hero, that didn't warrant any special exemption from the exams. Not enough people had been petrified for that to happen, and thus there I was, picking out the electives for the next year while mulling over the exam workload for the end of the year tests.

I could take Muggle Music, or join the Frog Choir and the Orchestra, but none of them actually did what I wanted them to. I was fine practicing by myself for what mattered. Arithmancy looked tough, but was a needed subject if one wanted to become a curse-breaker or deal with the creation of magical spells. Thus, I picked that and Care for Magical Creatures. Ancient Runes looked eerily similar to studying a dead tongue like Greek or Latin, and had little to nothing when compared to the fanon version of throwing runes at stuff and watching them explode.

Magical Theory was an interesting subject, and while I was tempted of taking Divination classes, I didn't want to waste my time, nor risk interacting with professor Trelawney and end up the target of a randomly spoken prophecy. For as long as a prophecy wasn't spoken, then fate was free to be altered; then again, considering certain horrendously post-books actions, no prophecy could defeat the might of a properly used Time-Turner.

It did make sense that until a prophecy was spoken, the future was up for grabs.

Still, electives could be dropped. Hence, if Ancient Runes didn't turn out to be something about scribbling runes and getting powerful ancient magic on one's side, I'd let it be and concentrate on the purely practical aspects of magic.

"What are you taking as electives?" Wayne asked, whispering it over the quiet scribbling of people taking notes for their upcoming exams.

"Arithmancy, Care for Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes and I'm continuing Magical Theory," I muttered back.

"Divination's an easy elective to take," he replied.

I gave him a small smile. "I know, but just because something's easy, it doesn't make it worthwhile."

I realized Amanda was peeking at my coursework, and as I raised an eyebrow in her direction, she grinned. "Care for Magical Creatures sounds great, all those dangerous beasts, but Kettleburn's a bit of a worrywart; doesn't want to risk his limbs any more." She pouted at that. Oi Amanda, leave the old man in pieces...in peace, I meant to say 'leave the old man in peace' I swear. "Well, we'll have that and Magical Theory together."

"Oh, you're taking Ancient Runes and Arithmancy too?" Megan acquiesced, having meanwhile peeked at my choices. "At least I won't be alone."

Both of my eyebrows rose. Megan looked at me. Her expression remained unchanged. She looked crystal-clear on her purpose in life. It terrified me. What did you wish for, little Hufflepuff, that you took these two bludger-like exams? I'm a monster who enjoys suffering and pain, but you, tender Hufflepuff, should take Divination and drink warm chocolate while receiving head-pats and generally staying under a thick woolly sheet without a care in the world.

"Are you thinking rude thoughts, Shade?" Megan asked, since my stare of disbelief had apparently breached her Hufflepuffish' natural airheadedness.

"Didn't you like Potions?" I asked back.

"Yes," she said. "Arithmancy's used to determine the number of ingredients and their quantities, and Ancient Runes' for reading old potions' texts that I may come across in dusty old libraries, also, old wizards' potions' books are sometimes scribbled in Runes and charmed to prevent translating."

Of course, Wizards of ancient times, keep on being paranoid old buffoons and force tender Hufflepuffs to take on the hard road to success. Then again, Hufflepuff was the house of Hard Work and quiet chocolate sipping.

"Ah," I acquiesced. "Then I won't be alone in my miserable existence."

"Why don't you take Divination too?" Amanda said. "It's cool-"

"Never," I said quickly, far too quickly. "When it's worthless, it's worthless, and when it's true, then you've condemned yourself to witnessing your doom or fate happen whether you like it or not." I took a deep breath. "My destiny and fate are my own, thank you very much, and if they've been ordained by some greater will, I don't want to know about that."

"I never saw it that way," Amanda mumbled, "But it's still an easy OWL."

I chuckled at that. "That's fine. My personal preferences are my own, after all."

With the curriculum thus adjourned, I dimly glanced at the trio of Gryffindors' dunderheads further down the library's tables. Every now and then, I could feel Ron's stare, or Harry's, and even Hermione's. I was under scrutiny, and I couldn't put it past them to shadow my moves. It was amusing, not as much as having brought Gryffindor down in points and knowing that more than a dozen cauldrons had been scrubbed by the three of them with a toothbrush, but it was a good thing all the same.

I was the Dark Lord they knew not of. I was the Dark Lord that wasn't really Dark, and not even ambiguously Grey. I was tempted to play with them a bit more, perhaps cackling in the background? Or maybe actually charm my name to make thunderclaps whenever spoken?

I sighed as I headed for my usual fishing afternoon. The warmer months made it worthwhile, and as I happened to cross paths with Luna, who was seemingly reading the Quibbler in the common room of the Ravenclaws, I invited her too to join us on our fishing expedition.

"Fishing is such a relaxing sport," I mumbled, "Though I can't help but feel we're cheating a bit on it."

"You speak for yourself," Amanda said, happily giggling at the Giant Squid's tentacles, which slammed on the surface of the water and created waves which she ran away from, only to move closer once more in a typical children' game of 'avoid getting wet' and 'fail miserably at that'.

In the meantime, I'd Accio the fishes sent on the lakeside by the waves, filling my basket.

"Don't wet the blanket!" Megan snapped angrily, huffing as she settled the blanket further away from the shore.

Luna glanced at the basket of fishes, and then smiled as she grabbed hold of one. "Are we using the fishes as bait for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"

"No, I'm actually planning on getting some permanent transfiguration done and twin it with the shrinking and enlarging charms," I hummed. "Once that's done, and practiced, I can finally feed Squiddie giant bread that doesn't shrink back once eaten."

"Ah," Luna said, smiling, "I see." She pulled out her copy of the Quibbler, and began to wrap one of the fish in the paper. "This would taste good with chips."

"Fish and chips, coming right up," I hummed, "Need to ask the House Elves in the kitchens, but I'll get it done for tomorrow's lunch, or dinner."

"Hey!" Wayne said, suddenly interested, "If you can convince the House Elves to change the menu, can we have Every-Flavored Jelly-Bean pudding for dessert?"

I stared at the Hufflepuff boy who was, in truth, a spawn of Satan.

"You will have it," I said with a firm voice, "Oh dark, evil lord of taste-buds death."

"Thanks Shade," Wayne chirped, not really bothering with anything else.

"I want a hotpot, can you make that?" Megan asked, and I rubbed my chin.

"Guess I'll have to try and ask," I sighed. "What about you Amanda?" I yelled at the Ravenclaw girl, currently laughing beyond belief as she did her best to avoid the crashing waves on the lake's side.

"Deep fried Squid!" she yelled.

The Giant Squid stopped moving her tentacles, half-frozen as if in fear.

"Oh shush it, you big bully! No hurting Squiddie!" I snapped at her with a smile settled on my lips. "Pick something else!"

"Lamb chops!" Amanda said, even as a jet of water and ink suddenly struck her, sending her to sprawl against the sand as the Giant Squid disappeared beneath the surface of the water, offended.

"Look at what you've done," I groaned. "You've hurt Squiddie's feelings," I stepped down from my fishing spot and neared her, shaking my head and extending a hand to help her back up.

Though my hand was now painted black with Giant Squid ink, it was nothing I couldn't fix with a quick spell.

Getting splashed and soaked down to my bones by a treacherous Amanda...

...that deserved retribution of the floating and shaking kind.