Hermione was about to start talking about the books when her voice abruptly cut off. Her eyes widened, and before her body could react, she found herself completely drained of strength.
Extimum was still upset.
Yesterday, when they visited the bookshop, Hermione had acted like a complete fanatic over Lockhart.
You could call it jealousy, but more than jealousy, it was his pride. Even if Lockhart was handsome and presented himself as a great wizard, Extimum didn't believe he fell short in terms of appearance, much less in ability—even if he didn't have as many "achievements" and "legends" as Lockhart.
Besides, he believed he had been quite clear about his intentions, and he wasn't being rejected either, so the fact that she tried to bring him up again with such enthusiasm reminded him of his annoyance, and without much consideration, he simply silenced her by biting her neck.
Bloom: 'Wow, so you're a vampire? No… you had tails and ears… something else, maybe?'
Bloom asked through the link, but Extimum didn't respond.
The sensations engulfed him once more, pulling him in without resistance.
The slight resistance of her skin as he sank into that taboo, intoxicating nectar… sweet… aromatic… stimulating…
It drowned his senses in pleasure.
** Blub, blub **
The flow of blood.
** Badum **
The beating of her heart in his ear.
** Huum **
The soft rhythm of her breathing, and then…
Ecstasy.
The desire, the addiction for more, drawing him for a moment into a dark and nearly maddening impulse.
Shattered by sensations beyond the physical realm: the unmistakable, magical connection of her being—her presence—intimately, like a warm embrace, as if nothing else existed in this world.
It was… indescribable, but… he quickly broke that illusion, pulling away from the seductive claws of desire, taking only enough to be satisfied before stopping.
No matter how magical it was, it wasn't a reward—it was a punishment, and as such, it was harsh, forceful in its beginning, its end, and in the emotions conveyed throughout.
As he pulled away, he couldn't help but lick his lips, savoring the lingering aftertaste, while his residual saliva sealed the marks and erased all evidence of what had just happened.
Extimum: 'It truly is a unique flavour.'
He regretted that it was only the second time he had tasted it.
At his side, Hermione remained limp in her seat, her gaze glassy.
He cast her a sidelong glance before returning his attention to his book, ignoring the surprised, questioning look Bloom was still directing at him.
Silence continued for nearly ten minutes, until Hermione emerged from her daze. However, the aftereffects of the bite still left her in a somewhat dreamy and unusually relaxed state.
She seemed lost in contemplation—it wasn't clear whether it was because of what had happened or the experience itself. However, Extimum's bite, this time charged with his irritation and dissatisfaction, had been too intense, and shortly after, she ended up falling asleep without realizing it.
Bloom: "Wasn't that a bit… harsh on her?"
At her words, Extimum slightly lifted his gaze from his book.
Extimum: "So… will you take her place?"
Bloom immediately flew off to hide in his hair, changing her size in the process. Through the link, she had perceived the sensory surge; just sensing it had made her shudder. She didn't know whether it was fear or curiosity—but she wasn't willing to find out at that moment.
The train departed from the station some time later; the journey was calm. No one came looking for him. Extimum suspected it probably had something to do with what Hermione had mentioned earlier, and it was possible that everyone had already settled into a compartment. On the other hand, he could also guess why he hadn't seen Harry and Ron.
Dobby was quite the troublemaker, trying to do good, yet often causing harm.
Extimum didn't bother interfering; first year had been enough. At least, he hoped so, because he already had plenty on his plate.
Although… well, in truth… he had done something. Minimal, but still, Mr. Weasley had been kind to him, so a small nudge wasn't such a bad thing, right?
Before parting the previous day, he had given Harry a small Disillusionment amulet he had prepared. Nothing too elaborate, just enough, so much so that its activation conditions were somewhat ridiculous.
It had an effect lasting no more than twenty minutes, and as long as the time and place were right, it would hide the car from public view, preventing any commotion in both the magical and non-magical communities.
...
At some point during his quiet journey and reading, he heard the loud sound of a car engine.
** Brmmm-Brmmm **
Looking out the window, there was a car—a small blue Ford Anglia 105E—flying past the train windows, spinning as it went.
Extimum: "Is the driver that bad… or does the vehicle simply fly poorly?"
Bloom: "Maybe it's both."
Extimum: "You're right."
He nodded in agreement and returned his attention to his book.
After that episode, nothing out of the ordinary happened again, and they finally arrived at Hogwarts around 6:00 p.m.
Hermione had woken up near the end of the journey but remained silent, simply reading her books beside him. She didn't seem upset; rather, she appeared at a loss for words or perhaps confused about what had happened.
After getting off the train, they took the thestral-drawn carriages to the castle and finally sat in the Great Hall to welcome the new first-years.
.
Dumbledore: "Good evening, everyone. I welcome both the returning students and those who are entering Hogwarts for the first time today. Professor McGonagall will now proceed with the Sorting ceremony."
After Dumbledore's opening remarks, Professor McGonagall continued with the Sorting.
McGonagall: "Luna, Lovegood."
Sorting Hat: "Ravenclaw!!!"
.
McGonagall: "Ginny, Weasley."
Sorting Hat: "Gryffindor!!!"
.
Just like in their first year, once the Sorting ceremony concluded, dinner was served.
Steve: "Hey, you disappeared on the train—I was looking for you to tell you the latest news."
Mitchell: "Yeah, and you completely abandoned us over the holidays. You only sent me one letter in three months."
Trudor: "*Bah*, what are you, a girl? Why do you need so many letters?"
Mitchell: "Hmpf, all of you went travelling somewhere, but I spent my holidays at home and was bored out of my mind."
Extimum: "I was a bit busy, but don't worry—I'll make it up to you later."
Steve: "Oh, what's that you've got there? A fairy?"
Mitchell: "What? Where?"
Steve: "On Extimum's shoulder."
Steve said, pointing at Bloom.
Trudor: "Blimey, it really is a fairy. Incredible."
Mitchell: "I think I've seen some in the castle, but they're quite elusive."
Steve: "Heh, you just have to flatter them a bit and they'll come—they can't help it. ahem Look. My lovely fairy, you of such dazzling beauty, come, come and brighten our presence with your unmatched charm, and let us admire the fruit of your greatness."
Bloom: 'Is he out of his mind?'
Bloom simply stared at him, her brows slightly furrowed.
Extimum: 'Mm, no, that might actually work on other fairies.'
Mitchell: "Wow, Steve, how charming! Where do you learn those lines? Look how convinced she is."
Mitchell said sarcastically, seeing that the fairy was ignoring Steve.
Extimum: "Her name is Bloom."
Steve: "*Ahem* I wasn't using my full charm before—now you'll see how she comes to me. Oh, Bloom, radiant and beautiful fairy, come and grace us with your beauty and glory."
Bloom: 'Should I go out of pity?'
Extimum: 'If you want to.'
Steve was starting to blush when he saw that Bloom wasn't going to him, and since he had become quite passionate in his speech, some second-years had overheard him and were paying attention. If Bloom didn't go, he would be terribly embarrassed.
Just as Mitchell was about to mock him, Bloom flew over to Steve and glowed with a soft iridescent light. She circled around him once before returning to her place beside Extimum.
Steve: "Hmpf, see, Mitchell? She couldn't resist my charm."
Trudor: "Yeah, sure. I think she felt sorry for you—or Extimum told her to go out of pity for your face."
Steve: "Heh, you'll see—one day my charm will attract all the girls."
Extimum: "Fine, charm them all you like—just don't try it again with Bloom. I doubt she'll take pity on you a second time."
** Hahaha **
Dinner went on peacefully. Bloom drew the attention of some of his acquaintances, especially the girls, like Padma, who approached during dinner to greet them and admire Bloom.
About halfway through the meal, there was a commotion when Harry and Ron arrived at the castle. Many had seen them flying the car while on the train, and although it didn't cause too much of an uproar since they hadn't been spotted by non-magical people over London, the students on the train and some wizards had seen them along the way.
Not to mention the delicate issue of underage wizards using enchanted Muggle objects, which somewhat affected public opinion regarding Arthur Weasley, who held a position in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.
Fortunately, since they hadn't been seen by non-magical people, the matter wasn't considered too serious and would likely be forgotten more easily—though Harry and Ron were still punished.
The Gryffindors were especially excited about the feat of flying a car to school. The uproar managed to pull Hermione out of her calm state, only for it to be replaced by anger and annoyance due to the rumors that basically said Harry and Ron had had an accident in a flying car.
That was not only against the rules—it was also very dangerous.
Because they were being punished and had detention, they didn't attend the rest of the feast, and Extimum didn't see them that night.
.
Extimum woke up early the next day, as he always kept the same routine. Even if it varied slightly during his time at home, it wasn't difficult for him to return to waking up early.
Rising around 5:00 a.m., he dressed in comfortable clothes and went out to do his physical and sword training for an hour. He then used the remaining half hour to return to his dormitory and take a shower, followed by putting on his Ravenclaw uniform. He quite liked the blue of his uniform—it matched well with the color of his eyes and hair.
After that, he went to wake Bloom, who hadn't accompanied him to train because she was tired from dealing with the enthusiasm of the Ravenclaw girls—and even some from other houses.
Extimum: "Come on, you've slept enough."
Bloom: "Ah, a bit longer…"
Extimum: "Fine, I suppose you'll have to find your food in the forest today."
Bloom: "Ah! What? No, wait!"
Bloom jumped up from the bed immediately and flew off, nearly crashing into Extimum's face while still half-asleep.
It was a good thing Extimum's reflexes were sharp enough to catch her just in time, because although he could have dodged, she would have likely crashed into the wall.
Extimum flicked his wand, casting a quick-cleaning charm on her, then placed her on his shoulder.
Bloom: "Kyaa! I don't like how that spell feels—it's so tingly."
Bloom squealed and sat upright on his shoulder.
Extimum: "Then you should've gotten ready earlier."
.
Extimum headed toward the Great Hall for breakfast.
On the way, he ran into Trudor, who also tended to wake up early. Steve and Mitchell, on the other hand, preferred to sleep longer and usually arrived about half an hour later.
Since the day before he had "punished" Hermione to the point of exhaustion, he didn't go to her table right away. Besides, he hadn't spent time with his Ravenclaw friends nor had the chance to meet them in Diagon Alley, as they had done their shopping on earlier days.
Since it was early, only some older students and a few second-years were at the table. The first-years would probably still be struggling to wake up early and find their way around.
He sat next to Trudor, and they began selecting what to eat. Bloom also seemed happy, bringing things and placing them on Extimum's plate, only to eat them herself afterward.
As a fairy, her diet consisted mainly of vegetables and fruits; however, Bloom didn't seem to have any problem consuming meat. On the other hand, she was quite fond of cheese, something evident from the small mountain she kept piling onto Extimum's plate.
It was, to some extent, amusing to watch her build such a mountain on the plate.
Extimum took out his book on magical anatomy; he was almost finished with it, so he read while eating calmly.
Though, in reality, he was using one of his tails to feed himself.
It was an interesting exercise to divide his concentration. Controlling his nine tails didn't place any mental strain on him, but it was a curious sensation, like having a sub-brain that could direct each one individually, so he had no trouble avoiding things like hitting his face with the spoon.
From an outside perspective, it looked as if he had enchanted the spoon to feed him, but Extimum didn't like that method because spoons weren't very patient if you didn't eat at their pace.
Trudor: "You're quite eccentric, aren't you? Reading while being fed."
Trudor couldn't help but comment at the sight.
Though, strangely enough, the scene looked rather natural on Extimum.
You could see him there, reading with an impassive expression, fully focused on his book, while a floating spoon would occasionally bring a portion of food to his mouth. He would eat it with elegance without diverting his attention from the text; even his glass of pumpkin juice would occasionally move closer.
Extimum: "Well, you're a wizard, aren't you? You can use your imagination to apply magic in practical ways, and I consider feeding myself while enjoying my reading to be a good use of it."
Extimum replied without lifting his gaze from the book.
At some point, he felt someone sit beside him, but he didn't pay much attention until the person spoke.
Padma: "Are you interested in healing magic, Extimum?"
Extimum paused his reading for a moment to look at Padma, who was sitting beside him.
Extimum: "How perceptive. I do want to learn a bit about it; it's convenient, especially if something happens and there's no Healer nearby. Being able to at least preserve a life would be good."
Padma: "You're right. I've read some books on the subject as well, but what fascinates me the most is how magic can affect a wizard's body, so many possibilities: potions that can strengthen you, magical rituals that can grant abilities, magical stones that can extend life, human transfiguration… It might even be possible to improve magical lineage… *Ahem*
Sorry if I talked too much, I got a bit carried away."
She said, averting her gaze slightly. Unlike her twin sister, who was more outgoing, Padma had a quieter and more reserved personality most of the time.
Extimum: "It's fine. In fact, aside from that one time"—Padma blushed slightly at the memory—"it's the first time I've seen you talk this much. The topics you mentioned are certainly interesting.
If we talk about longevity, although we live longer than non-magical people, there are still limits. Perhaps only Nicolas Flamel, with his Philosopher's Stone, discovered a method for immortalityand even that is not a perfect one.
As for physical capabilities, while we have many methods to surpass physical limits, it isn't a field widely studied in magical Britain, and although we have a certain genetic advantage, we're not that different from non-magical people physically."
'Well, at least when we're talking about ordinary wizards. The great ancient families might not necessarily agree with that statement.'
Padma: "Yes… that's why I like reading about those topics…"
In the end, the conversation became quite engaging, so Extimum set his book aside and focused on talking with Padma while enjoying his dessert.
As they talked, the Great Hall gradually filled with more people.
Steve and Mitchell arrived at some point as well and were surprised to see Padma so enthusiastic in the conversation, so they joined in, contributing with what they knew.
Steve mentioned some stories he had heard about the advantages of becoming an Animagus, while Mitchell brought up a strange rumor he had come across, that there were inhuman wizards hidden within the magical community, possessing physical abilities beyond the norm.
That last comment made Extimum's eyebrow twitch slightly, as he thought he might fall into that category.
Their lively conversation was interrupted when a woman's loud voice rang out from the Gryffindor table:
"Ronald Weasley! How dare you steal the car! I am absolutely furious! Just wait until I see you! You and Harry could have been killed.
You were lucky the car wasn't seen by Muggles, or your father might have faced serious charges, and even now he still has to deal with the mess you caused. If you disobey again, I'll bring you straight home! Ginny, dear, congratulations on getting into Gryffindor. Your father and I are very proud."
** Pruurr **
Steve: "Merlin, that Howler nearly gave me a heart attack."
Extimum: "Yes... that was rather unpleasant."
He commented with a slight frown.
The Howler had been far too abrupt, catching him off guard. To him, it had sounded twice as loud, almost leaving him deafened.
Fortunately, he managed to regulate his hearing almost immediately. Even so, the echo of the shout lingered for a moment, reminding him how sensitive his senses could be in situations like that.
Trudor: "Yeah, Howlers are the worst, and a bit dangerous too if you don't open them."
While most of the students were discussing the Howler Ron had received, the Heads of House passed near the tables, handing out schedules to the students of each year.
Flitwick: "Alright, children, here are your timetables. Please distribute them among yourselves and take care not to lose them."
Extimum received a bundle and, after taking one for himself, handed the rest out to the other second-years.
Giving his timetable a quick glance, he noted that he would have Potions with Snape as his first class of the day, followed by Herbology, both shared with Slytherin.
After finishing breakfast, they headed to class together.
.
Potions class.
Snape: "Prepare your cauldrons and ingredients. Today we will be making a Fire Protection Potion. It is on page fourteen of your Basic Potions book."
Extimum was seated at one of the tables with Padma when Snape, who had just entered the classroom, began the lesson immediately by giving instructions.
It was something new for him to be sitting next to Padma. Usually, Steve and Mitchell would compete for the seat beside him, as they struggled greatly in Snape's classes.
Padma had simply beaten them to it because she had been talking with Extimum on the way there, and by the time they realized, they were already seated. To make matters worse, Trudor, who was the second best at Potions among the four, had sat with someone else, leaving them no choice but to work together.
Extimum took out the ingredients needed for the potion. Since he had already read the book, he didn't need to look to know what he required.
If he had been able to brew this potion that day when going after the Philosopher's Stone, the results might have been much better, but it hadn't occurred to him at the time because his mind had been occupied with the ancient runes he had been studying over the past few months. Besides, he hadn't had either the time or the ingredients to brew it back then.
Reaching into his bag, he took out two cloth pouches and a vial.
Inside one of the pouches was a large mushroom, about ten centimeters long. Its stem was white, and its cap was red with white spots. It was an explosive mushroom.
In the second pouch were small yellow cubes resembling sugar cubes. It was wart powder. They had the particular property of causing scabs on the skin if touched directly, so they had to be handled with gloves.
The vial, on the other hand, contained the blood of a magical salamander.
These three were the main ingredients for brewing the potion.
Snape: "Well, I trust you have all ensured that your cauldrons are free of any residue before beginning."
Snape spoke in his usual slow and slightly dramatic tone.
Snape: "Now, light your cauldrons and add one litre of water."
Extimum moved his hand almost unconsciously, lighting the fire beneath his cauldron. Then he began slicing the explosive mushroom with care and precision. He didn't need Snape to tell him how to do it, this potion was actually quite simple. Still, he did it in silence, not wanting Snape hovering over him and scolding him for not following instructions.
It wasn't uncommon for him, sometimes he got ahead of the class, other times he tested certain variations, and on rarer occasions, he did completely different things.
Since he had already practiced the potion and knew all its details by heart, he didn't find it particularly interesting to follow the class instructions, except in those rare moments when Snape shared some of his own experience or a variation of the formula.
In any case, as long as he used a bit of illusion magic and could present his work satisfactorily at the end of the lesson, there wouldn't be any real problem.
Speaking of Snape, his relationship with him wasn't exactly good, but it couldn't be called bad either. Still, it was very likely that, at least during this period, it would worsen, simply because he shared classes with Slytherin, and Snape would probably try to take points from Ravenclaw and award them to Slytherin at the slightest opportunity.
Unfortunately, it seemed his thoughts were bound to come true, as Padma, who was sitting beside him, had been following his actions as a guide. That wouldn't have been an issue under normal circumstances, but she hadn't been particularly discreet, nor was she covered by the light veil of illusion, so she was noticed by Snape, who in turn noticed Extimum.
Considering that Extimum had a certain academic reputation, with all his perfect marks in first year, it wasn't strange that someone would take him as an example. Even more so when Padma saw him light the fire with a mere motion of his hand, so her attempt to follow him wasn't particularly unusual.
Snape: "Now, slice the explosive mushrooms with a knife and, oh, Miss Patil and Mr Enoch... I wasn't aware you were so far ahead of the class. If you are unwilling to follow instructions, you may write an essay on the next topic, 'Vitalising Tree Bark', describing its uses and where it may be found."
Padma nearly jumped when Snape suddenly called her name. She had been so absorbed in learning and following Extimum that she had, in a way, ignored both the instructions and the progress of the others. Extimum, on the other hand, frowned slightly for a moment before relaxing his expression.
Extimum: "I apologise, Professor. I acted a bit impatiently, it's just that your presence is truly motivating to me, and I couldn't help but want to move a little ahead. However, I still wish to continue with the lesson, if possible. As for my partner, Padma has merely been affected by my actions, as the Howler Weasley received left her somewhat deaf in one ear, and she has only been able to follow what I was doing."
Snape: "Is that so... Very well, I trust it won't happen again. Five points will be taken from Ravenclaw, and Miss Patil, go to the infirmary to have your ear checked after class. It would be most unfortunate if you were to suffer lasting damage."
Snape's expression seemed to improve slightly at Extimum's admission, letting the matter pass, though of course he still deducted points, but not too many.
It seemed that being as little of a nuisance as possible and performing perfectly in all his classes the previous year had earned him a certain degree of consideration, though it was unlikely such leniency would last.
Snape: "Now then, let us continue. Add the chopped mushrooms to the cauldron and stir clockwise until the potion turns blue."
Padma: "I'm sorry". Murmured as she followed Snape's instructions.
Extimum: "It's fine, I was the one who moved ahead."
He had already developed a certain ability to handle troublesome situations. Although his words might sound somewhat flattering, they meant little to him, it was simply politics. And the results proved it had been worth it.
The class continued without further incidents.
.
As they left the Potions classroom, they made their way toward the greenhouses.
The Potions class had been long, so they only had ten minutes to get to their next lesson.
Steve: "Oi, Extimum, what happened back there? I've never seen Snape catch you or say anything to you."
Extimum: "I was a bit careless."
He admitted casually, not wanting to make Padma look bad in front of everyone for an innocent mistake, which earned him a grateful glance from her.
Mitchell: "That's strange. I've seen you do a lot of things before and no one noticed, but I suppose you can't be lucky all the time."
Steve: "On the other hand, I heard we're going to Greenhouse Three today."
Trudor: "So soon? I thought we would keep studying the plants from Greenhouses One and Two."
Mitchell: "We've already covered all the important ones there, so we'll probably start looking at more dangerous plants, and that's why we're going to Greenhouse Three."
Padma: "Mm, if we're going to Greenhouse Three, it's possible we'll see mandrakes."
...
The greenhouses were located behind the castle. They were generally divided by levels depending on the plants studied each year, though they were also classified by their level of danger.
The greenhouse was a long structure made of glass and iron, with several enchantments to ensure an ideal environment for each plant and to prevent the more mischievous ones from escaping.
Herbology class was taught by Professor Pomona Sprout. She was a short woman with short, grey, wavy hair. She usually wore a worn witch's hat with a few patches. She was dressed in a beige work robe, and her clothes, like her nails, were a bit dirty from her constant handling of plants and soil. Even so, she always kept a smile on her face.
Sprout: "Good morning, everyone."
All: "Good morning."
The students were arranged around several tables in the center of the greenhouse. On top of them were multiple pots with plants. Professor Sprout, meanwhile, stood at the front, addressing all the students gathered on both sides.
Everyone wore a work robe, as it was easy to get dirty during greenhouse activities, along with dragon-hide gloves to protect their hands from some dangerous plants.
Sprout: "Today we'll be repotting mandrakes. Let's see, who can tell me what properties the mandrake has?"
The mandrakes were arranged in pots in a row in front of the students, with only their green stems and purple leaves sticking out.
Trudor raised his hand.
Sprout: "Yes, Mr Naipe."
Trudor: "The mandrake is an essential ingredient in the making of most antidotes, mainly for those who have suffered spells or transformations, but it is also very dangerous when mature, as its cry can be fatal."
Sprout: "Excellent answer, ten points to Ravenclaw. Now, the mandrakes we have here are still young, so they do not pose a fatal threat, but they can still stun you for hours, so make sure you put on your earmuffs properly if you don't want to lose your first day of classes. Now, put them on, quickly, quickly."
The earmuffs were piled in a large container, so all the Ravenclaw and Slytherin students crowded around to grab one each.
However, at some point, among the last ones remaining, including Extimum, they exchanged looks when they noticed that among the remaining earmuffs, one had a rather childish design and was pink.
Steve: "Mitchell, I'll leave you the fluffy one, I think it suits you."
Mitchell: "Hmpf, I'd say it matches your hair better, you should take it."
(Considering Steve has crimson red hair)
While they argued, Crabbe and Goyle, who had been among the last Slytherins and had not yet taken their earmuffs, stepped forward in a rare display of intelligence and cunning, grabbing two normal ones and leaving only three, two regular ones and the fluffy one.
Extimum: "They're just earmuffs, it doesn't matter."
Seeing that Steve and Mitchell were about to start arguing again, Extimum picked up the pink earmuffs.
Before putting them on, he changed their colour to purple, though he did not alter the fluffy design. They didn't actually look that bad, it was just them overthinking such details.
Steve: "You're a real man, Extimum."
Steve patted him as he put on his own earmuffs.
Mitchell: "Yeah, yeah, and a great friend too."
Some of the more childish students still felt like mocking the design of the earmuffs, but a glance from Draco or Extimum was enough to silence them.
Bloom: 'Hmpf, what's wrong with those? Fluffy earmuffs are cute.'
Bloom pouted at the children's behavior.
The earmuffs did not completely block out sound, rather, they reduced it to a certain extent, allowing you to hear only if someone shouted.
Extimum, on the other hand, did not seem particularly affected, because technically he had two sets of ears. Although his fox ears remained hidden and he primarily used his human ones, his fox ears still granted him a certain perception of distant sounds.
Not to mention that, even while hidden, his sense of hearing had always been just as sharp with or without the fox ears, and it had only become even more acute after he obtained them.
In any case, during his first year he had already learned to regulate his heightened senses naturally or through magic, because if he didn't, they could become a weakness. Curiously, this issue did not occur when he transformed into his fox form. The reasoning behind that was something Extimum still did not understand; he assumed it might be part of his ongoing process of evolution.
Professor Sprout had her own ways of making her voice heard without having to strain it for every student, even while they wore their earmuffs.
After making sure everyone was properly covered, she rolled up her sleeves and, with her gloves on, grabbed the plant in front of her and pulled it upward.
Sprout: "Right then, you take your mandrake firmly and pull it sharply out of its pot."
** Chiii, chiiii **
A loud and unpleasant shriek was heard immediately as she pulled the plant out, though it did not affect anyone and was mostly just an irritating sound thanks to the earmuffs.
Extimum only narrowed his eyes slightly, but nothing more.
Bloom, on the other hand, had been quite resourceful. She had taken a bit from some of the greenhouse plants and fashioned a pair of miniature earmuffs for herself, adding a few quick enchantments so they would function just like the ones everyone else was using.
It was important to understand that simply removing the sense of hearing would not work, because the attack produced by the mandrakes' cry would still affect the ears even if you could not hear it. While you might be able to suppress the stunning effects, your eardrums could burst or be severely damaged, assuming you didn't die in the process.
The plant they had been talking about finally appeared before everyone's eyes.
It resembled a newborn baby, small, covered in mud, and extremely ugly. Leaves sprouted directly from its head. Its skin was pale green with spots, and it looked as though it were crying with all its might.
[img]
Sprout: "See? Now you place it into another pot, cover it with soil, and that's all."
Sprout explained as she handled her own mandrake.
Sprout: "Right, as you all understand, take the mandrake in front of you and pull it out."
Everyone positioned themselves in front of their pots, grabbed their mandrakes by the leaves, and pulled upward.
** Chiii, chiiii **
This time, the sound was much worse, as nearly twenty mandrakes were pulled out at once.
Extimum also held his mandrake in front of him. Its sharp cry was somewhat irritating, and he wasn't surprised that it could truly stun or even kill someone.
Bloom: 'Oh, let me handle it, I know how to deal with these crying children.'
As she spoke, Bloom scattered what seemed to be fairy dust from her hands.
When the dust made contact with Extimum's mandrake, it immediately stopped crying, as if it had been soothed.
Bloom smiled upon seeing the now calm mandrake and turned to look at Extimum proudly, showing off her skill with children.
Extimum gave her a curious look and thanked her. Even though she had only silenced one mandrake, it significantly reduced his irritation, as it had been the closest one to him.
Bloom's action drew the attention of the nearby students and earned a bright look from Professor Sprout.
Sprout: "A clever use of fairy magic, five points to Ravenclaw."
Sprout naturally assumed it had been Extimum's idea. However, the surprises did not end there, as suddenly, all the other mandrakes stopped crying in the next moment.
Extimum was about to plant his mandrake when the greenhouse, previously filled with noise, suddenly fell silent. However, unlike Extimum's mandrake, which had been calmed by Bloom's magic, the others seemed to be trembling in fear, their expressions clearly showing it, not daring to cry out.
Extimum: 'Did you do that?'
Bloom: 'No… I only calmed yours. If anything… I think it was you.'
Extimum: 'Me?'
Extimum was not the only one confused and surprised by what had happened; the others were as well. However, Professor Sprout did not think it had been Extimum. As an expert in magical plants, she could clearly tell that it had not been fairy magic. There was no comparison between the frightened state of the others and the peaceful one of Extimum's mandrake. Besides, she had not seen him cast any spell.
Sprout: "Right, continue and plant your mandrakes."
Although everyone was puzzled, they finished the exercise, and after Professor Sprout explained a few more things about mandrakes, the class came to an end.
Everyone returned their earmuffs and moved to another area where they could take off their work robes and gloves before sending them to be cleaned.
.
After the morning classes ended, everyone still had some free time before lunch, but they headed to the Great Hall anyway to work on the assignment that the Potions professor had given while they waited.
In the end, Snape made everyone complete the essay regardless, as it was a task he had planned to assign to all of them anyway.
Extimum remained at the Ravenclaw table while working on the assignment along with the others.
Steve: "That was strange, what happened with the mandrakes."
Padma: "Yes, they looked scared."
Mitchell: "On the other hand, Extimum, Bloom was amazing. She put that noisy mandrake to sleep with just a bit of fairy dust."
Steve: "Right, that could be really useful if you want to become a herbologist, or even just to take care of your plants for potion-making."
Extimum simply nodded at their comments before saying:
"Alright, I'm done."
With that, he closed his book, stored his parchments in his bag, and stood up from his seat.
Steve: "What? Hey, wait, where are you going? I haven't copied the assignment yet."
Extimum: "I never said I would let you copy it."
With that said, he walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Hermione.
Extimum: "I see you're becoming quite famous, Harry."
Harry: "Ugh… I don't want to talk about it."
Harry had run into a few minor problems, one of them being Colin Creevey, a first-year student who had acted like a sort of superfan, trying to take pictures of him while cheerfully mentioning the "feats" Harry had accomplished in his books.
It was a development that had put him in a rather embarrassing situation, especially since Draco seemed quite pleased with how things were turning out and did not miss the opportunity to mock him.
Extimum had only overheard bits of it while finishing his assignment, but he still understood the situation. On the other hand, Draco did not show as much hatred toward Harry at the moment; rather, it was more of a rivalry mixed with slight hostility. The influence of his father and his own pride made him persistent in bothering Harry and Ron, and perhaps Hermione as well when Extimum was not nearby.
Extimum: "In any case, I've been a bit busy this morning, so why don't you tell me about your great adventure with the flying car now?"
Ron: "Now that I think about it, thanks, Extimum. If you hadn't given Harry that amulet, I think my dad would have gotten into much more serious trouble."
Extimum: "Your family is kind, and you're my friend, so of course I'd lend you a hand."
Ron: "If you had smiled while saying that, I might have actually been moved by your words. Still, thanks, I really appreciate it."
Ron couldn't help but comment. He could clearly sense the sincerity behind the words, but Extimum's tone was as flat as ever, killing much of the mood.
Hermione: "Wait, but how did you know they would need the amulet?"
Extimum: "You think too much. The amulet had a single-use Disillusionment Charm. I gave it to Harry so he would carry it with him. The amulet would detect if magic was used in the presence of non-magical people and hide it. Given Harry's situation and what happened with the house-elf, I gave it to him in case something similar happened."
Ron couldn't help but comment. He could clearly sense the unintended feeling behind the words, but Extimum's tone was as flat as ever, dulling much of their impact and emotion.
Hermione: "Wait, but how did you know they would need the amulet?"
Extimum: "You think too much. The amulet had a single-use Disillusionment Charm. I gave it to Harry to carry with him. The amulet would detect if magic was used in the presence of non-magical people and conceal it. Given Harry's troubles and what happened with the house-elf, I gave it to him in case he found himself in a similar situation."
Extimum had already prepared an excuse in case they asked.
Of course, they could find flaws in it, but there was no need to make it overly elaborate—he had a reasonable justification to support it. The warning Harry had received from the Ministry for magic he hadn't even cast himself, but rather Dobby.
They chatted a while longer before heading together to their next class after lunch: Defence Against the Dark Arts, which would be held jointly for all four houses' second-year students.
.
The Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom was located in room 3C on the third floor.
The room was large enough to accommodate all second-year students from the four houses, with an iron chandelier hanging from the ceiling, along with the skeleton of a dragon.
At one end of the classroom stood a projector that activated by magic. Several desks and tables were arranged throughout the room, along with a set of large windows. Behind the professor's desk, a staircase led up to the current teacher's private office.
[img]
Upon entering, Extimum took a seat beside Hermione at the front, with Harry and Ron at the table to his right, Trudor and Padma to his left, and Steve and Mitchell seated behind him.
Once everyone had settled, the office door opened. From within, Lockhart emerged, walking with theatrical elegance.
Lockhart: "Allow me to introduce your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Me, Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award. But I don't want to talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Banshee that foretold death with my smile alone! Hahaha!"
Lockhart laughed at what he clearly considered a joke.
Extimum maintained an indifferent expression as he listened to the boastful introduction. Like everyone else, he found no reason to laugh, and the silence that followed made Lockhart visibly uncomfortable.
Lockhart: "I see you've all bought my books, excellent. I think we'll begin today with a test"— Everyone except Extimum grimaced at his words —"Don't worry, it's only to check how much you've learned from my books."
As Lockhart walked around distributing the test papers, Hermione's face lit up with clear admiration, bordering on infatuation. However, she suddenly felt a faint tingling at the spot where she had been bitten the day before, snapping her out of it. She quickly composed herself, casting a brief glance at Extimum, but his expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever, offering no clue about the sensation she had just felt.
Ron: "What is this? Aren't these just questions about his life?"
Lockhart: "You have thirty minutes. You may begin... now!"
Taking the parchment in hand, Extimum gave it a quick glance. His face remained completely neutral as he read the absurd questions written on it.
Extimum: 'Well, well, well.'
What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favourite colour? Bright pink, of course. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition? To die of pleasure at the hands of incubi. What do you consider to be Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date? Remaining alive after accomplishing such "great feats." On what date is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be? January 26th. His ideal gift would be to free himself from his dark fate.
…
There were nearly forty questions.
Extimum answered them calmly. Some he answered correctly, after all, he had taken the trouble to read the books, while others he simply answered however, he pleased. In any case, it was merely a test of "basic knowledge."
After the thirty minutes had passed, Lockhart collected the papers and took some time to review them.
Lockhart: "Tut, tut. Very few of you remembered that my favourite colour is lilac, clearly stated in Year with the Yeti. And some of you must reread Break with a Banshee more carefully. In chapter twelve, I clearly state that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between the magical and non-magical communities! Though I wouldn't say no to a bottle of well-aged Ogden's Old Firewhisky!"
Almost all the boys in the classroom grimaced at his shameless remark.
Lockhart: "On the other hand, I must say I am a little disappointed with Miss Granger, who did not answer a single question. I do hope you make a habit of reading a bit more… and Mr Enoch, well… such imagination. It's clear you've read my books, but you seem to have mixed in a few… inconsistencies.
Fortunately, Mr Naipe does know my secret ambition, which is to rid the world of evil and market my own line of hair-care products. Ten points to Ravenclaw."
Lockhart's words surprised more than a few, indeed, nearly everyone. Both Hermione and Extimum were considered the most diligent students of their respective houses; Extimum, in fact, had a reputation across all four. Yet one had answered nothing, and the other had answered incorrectly. It was rather unexpected.
Lockhart: "Now then, beware! It is my mission to arm you against the most dreadful creatures in the wizarding world. You may well be required to face your worst fears within this very classroom. But know this, so long as I am here, you will come to no harm.
All I ask is that you remain calm."
Lockhart said this as he approached an object covered by a cloth.
His narration managed to create a certain atmosphere, silencing the murmurs among the students and stirring caution, and nervousness in the more timid ones.
Lockhart: "I must ask you not to scream… It might provoke them."
He spoke theatrically as he lifted the covering, as though revealing something truly extraordinary.
** ah hi oh **
Lockhart: "Freshly caught Cornish pixies."
The pixies were electric blue and about eight inches tall, with sharp faces and voices so shrill and piercing it was like hearing a flock of parrots squabbling. They seemed highly agitated, arguing among themselves and rattling the cage violently.
[img]
** hahaha **
Many laughed upon seeing the contents, as the creatures inside inspired no fear whatsoever, releasing the invisible tension that had built up during Lockhart's performance.
Lockhart: "Oh, you find them amusing, do you? You'll soon see, they can be devilishly tricky!"
He shouted the last part as he opened the cage, releasing the pixies.
They shot out like rockets in all directions.
Two seized Neville by the ears and hoisted him into the air, leaving him dangling from the chandelier. Some flew straight through the windows, showering those at the back with shattered glass.
The rest set about wreaking havoc in the classroom: books, parchment, posters, and spilling ink everywhere. Everything they encountered became a tool for chaos. Though they did not directly harm anyone, their destruction carried a real sense of danger, not to mention being incredibly irritating.
The chaos was such that most of the students had taken refuge beneath their desks to avoid their not-so-harmless mischief.
Extimum remained seated, calmly observing the disorder, alongside Hermione and Bloom.
Bloom: 'What irritating creatures.'
She crossed her arms as she watched the frantic pixies.
Hermione had grown somewhat anxious when the creatures were suddenly released. Being seated at the front, several pixies had rushed toward them, attempting to harass them, only to crash face-first into an invisible barrier that Extimum had silently cast with his wand the moment he saw Lockhart approach the cage.
Lockhart: "Come now, what are you waiting for? Catch them, they're only pixies!"
Seeing that no one seemed capable of doing anything, he rolled up his sleeves and waved his wand.
Lockhart: "Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"
However, whether the spell failed or because a pixie snatched his wand almost the instant he finished speaking and tossed it out the window, nothing happened.
----
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