"Only if Chang manages to stay unharmed for each match of the season." Noted Morag. "Otherwise it's you who will be the Seeker."
"Oh come, on..." Alexandra's luck wasn't that bad. No?
7th December 1992, Hogwarts Scotland
At a time where most diurnal beings, and in particularly humans, were soundly asleep, quite a few magical entities would have manifested a fair amount of surprise at the lights illuminating the working office of the Senior DADA Professor.
The masculine portion would have insinuated the deplorable low amount of intelligence did not allow Professor Gilderoy Lockhart to remain awake long in the evenings. The feminine representatives would have exclaimed their teacher needed his beauty sleep.
Both sides were completely wrong.
Wearing a robe that was neither ostentatious nor remarkable, the wizard pretending to be the most incapable wand-wielder since immemorial times was drinking a cup of tea while reading the masterworks of the papers he had posed in the last week.
It had been a very amusing affair, and the burst of laughter grasping him at frequent intervals had forced him to pass this hobby once there was no one in this wing, the fun being not worth breaking his cover of shining buffoon.
Finishing his drink after a wonderful example of sarcasm and not-so veiled insults had brought tears to his eyes, the American spy thought how to answer this humorous piece of parchment. After mere seconds, the Defence teacher sighed to himself.
What was the risk after all? Once the marks would enter the student formal record, Gilderoy Lockhart intended to be very far from this castle. It was not like he had intended to return the papers with unacceptable grades...too many complaints from angry parents demanding explanations.
The blonde-haired wizard took the majestic quill taken from a grey-brown owl and wrote in bright red ink the final grade in the records for the second-years students.
Alexandra Potter-Outstanding.
9 September 1992, Black Cobra Manor, England
For a while, all the old woman felt was pain. Endless pain. Finally, the agony receded and her thoughts came back, one by one, scattered and dispersed.
"You are lucky to be alive, you know!" Growled the voice of the Healer she had personally hired to take care of her five years ago. "Practising such Dark Magic in your condition is asking for death!"
"I wanted...wanted..." The voice of the woman faltered, not managing to enounce more than a few words.
"You wanted to die? Because if it was what you wanted, I'm pleased to tell you you've perfectly achieved your goal." The Healer said, clearly in a bad mood.
"How...long?" The question came out like a croak.
"One month. Maybe two." Admitted the Healer. "Normally, your magic would have managed to heal most of the damage, but..." He didn't finish the sentence. His interlocutor knew very well why her body was in such a state, after all.
"Very well." The voice of the old woman came back with a bit of strength behind it this time. "I suppose I will have to make my preparations sooner than expected."
"Yes." Agreed the Healer. "And if you want to last that long, please refrain to practise anymore this kind of rituals. You will not survive another attempt!"
"I know." The woman said. "But I had to make the attempt. Toujours Pur."
Alexandra was in the process of beating with her fists a recalcitrant specimen of Groaning Mushroom into its pot when the voice of Professor Sprout called her.
"Miss Potter! Mister Malfoy! Could you please come here?"
Sending a look of incomprehension to Morag who was her designed Herbology partner for the class, Alexandra struck the head of the mushroom with a heavy blow, forcing it to take root into the earth the Ravenclaws and the Slytherins second year had prepared beforehand. The Ravenclaw witch then cleared her hands as best as she could.
"I come back in a second." The green-eyed witch said to her fellow Ravenclaw, before marching to the other side of the greenhouse where Professor Sprout was cutting a dangerous plant called the Venomous Tentacula. Inwardly, Alexandra wondered why the Professor wanted to see her suddenly in the middle of the class. And with Draco Malfoy of all persons too? Curious.
"You wanted to see me Professor?" The Potter Heiress asked to the Head of House Hufflepuff, who was not far from a desk crowded by magical plants. The Herbology Professor's wand was emitting a calm violet light which appeared to put the plant next to her in a sort of magical sleep.
"Yes, Miss Potter." Said Professor Sprout in her usual jovial tone. "I did." The Herbology Professor added, just as Draco Malfoy arrived next to her. The Slytherin boy was red-faced and transpiring, as well as out of breath. His school robes were dirty, with a lot of earth everywhere and several scratches where small thorns had touched his wizard's clothes. It was as well the Slytherins were sharing their Herbology class with the Ravenclaw, because the second-years Gryffindors wouldn't have let passed such occasion to mock the dishevelled appearance of the blonde pure-blood.
And they are those who wonder why Herbology is the least preferred class of the Slytherins, thought Alexandra with amusement.
"Professor Snape wants to see both of you before the Great Hall at eleven o'clock for your family reunion. A Portkey made by Professor Dumbledore will transport to you to Black Cobra Manor and back when it will be over. You are dispensed of courses from the rest of the day."
"Err... Professor?" Asked Alexandra, not understanding the sense of what the Head of Hufflepuff had just uttered.
"I have not been invited to any family reunion. For that matter, most of my family is dead, so I doubt I will receive any invitation from them."
"Honestly, Potter." Drawled Malfoy in his usual arrogant and condescending tone. "The Professor is speaking about your ties with the Black family. Don't tell me you haven't received an invitation from Lady Cassiopeia Black!"
-----+------
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/Makimafic
If you guys wanna check it out.