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𝑀𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒪𝒲𝐿𝓈: 𝒯𝒾𝓅𝓈 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝑔𝓌𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝐿𝒾𝒷𝓇𝒶𝓇𝓎

ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕆𝕣𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝕎𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕤 (𝕆𝕎𝕃𝕤) 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕔𝕣𝕦𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 ℍ𝕠𝕘𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤, 𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕝 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕖𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟. 𝔼𝕒𝕔𝕙 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒 𝕥𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕠𝕗 ℍ𝕠𝕘𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔. ℍ𝕖𝕣𝕖’𝕤 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕙𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕘𝕦𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕟𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕘𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕆𝕎𝕃 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕣, 𝕗𝕠𝕔𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 ℂ𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝔻𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕚𝕡𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕝𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤!

ℂ𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕒 𝕧𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕥𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕓𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤, 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 ℍ𝕚𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕘𝕣𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕝𝕤. 𝕋𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕖𝕝 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥, 𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤-𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕒𝕝𝕦𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖. 𝕄𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕓𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 ℍ𝕠𝕘𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤. 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕒 𝕕𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕛𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤, 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕣𝕤, 𝕙𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤. ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕦𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕖𝕩𝕥𝕤, 𝕤𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕤 𝔽𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞, 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕖𝕟𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘.

ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕟 𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝. 𝔸𝕕𝕧𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕕 ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟-𝕄𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕞𝕦𝕤𝕥-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕤𝕚𝕩𝕥𝕙 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕚𝕥 𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕚𝕥. 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕔 𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕀𝕟𝕧𝕚𝕘𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕘𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕕 ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕪. 𝕌𝕤𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕠𝕘𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕓𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕘𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕡𝕖𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕒𝕤𝕜 ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕗𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕠𝕣 𝕊𝕟𝕒𝕡𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕘𝕦𝕚𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤. 𝔸 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝-𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕕 𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤, 𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕟𝕚𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕚𝕡𝕤 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕒 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖𝕤𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟.

𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕗𝕚𝕘𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞 𝕠𝕣 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕒𝕟 𝕠𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥. 𝔽𝕠𝕔𝕦𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕠𝕣𝕪, 𝕒𝕤 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕤. 𝕌𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕫𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕩𝕥𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕠𝕗 𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕚𝕟 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕕𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤. ℙ𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕟𝕠𝕟-𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝.

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕤 𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕒 𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕒𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕖𝕟𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕠𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤. 𝕊𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕔𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕪, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤. 𝕁𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕡 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕖𝕩𝕥𝕣𝕒 𝕞𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕤. 𝔻𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕣𝕖𝕘𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕫𝕫𝕖𝕤!

ℍ𝕖𝕣𝕓𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕪 𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕠𝕝𝕧𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤. 𝔼𝕟𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕗𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕜𝕖𝕪 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔽𝕝𝕦𝕩𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕕, 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕦𝕤𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣𝕤. ℍ𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤-𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕟𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕧𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕝, 𝕤𝕠 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕤𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤. ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟.

𝕄𝕦𝕘𝕘𝕝𝕖 𝕊𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕟-𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕, 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕙 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕝𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕩. 𝔼𝕟𝕘𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕄𝕦𝕘𝕘𝕝𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕡𝕥𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕢𝕦𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤. 𝕌𝕤𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕩𝕥𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕒 𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕦𝕘𝕘𝕝𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕦𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕤.

𝕊𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝔸𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕥 ℝ𝕦𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕖𝕩𝕥𝕤. 𝔽𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕣𝕦𝕟𝕖 𝕤𝕪𝕞𝕓𝕠𝕝𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕞𝕖𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕚𝕤 𝕔𝕣𝕦𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝. ℙ𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕩𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖. 𝕆𝕟𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕒𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤.

ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕕𝕣𝕪, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕚𝕥’𝕤 𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕’𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕥. ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔸 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕕𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕗𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕠𝕣 𝔹𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕤' 𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕜𝕖𝕪 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕗𝕚𝕘𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤. ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕞𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣.

𝔻𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕖 𝔸𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕜 𝔸𝕣𝕥𝕤 (𝔻.𝔸.𝔻.𝔸.) 𝕚𝕤 𝕧𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕝 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕒𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕠𝕣 𝕨𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕. 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝-𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕕𝕒𝕣𝕜 𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕤. ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕣𝕖𝕘𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕪, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕟𝕚𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤. 𝕁𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝔻.𝔸.𝔻.𝔸. 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕡 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕤𝕦𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖.

𝔸𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕪 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕒𝕓𝕠����𝕥 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤; 𝕚𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕖𝕕𝕘𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕓𝕠𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤. 𝕄𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕗𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕫𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕜𝕖𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤. 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕒 𝕕𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕠𝕓𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕤, 𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕒𝕝𝕦𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕆𝕎𝕃𝕤.

𝔸𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕓𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔, 𝕗𝕠𝕔𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕟𝕦𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕤. 𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕔𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕞𝕤. ℝ𝕖𝕘𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕪 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕞𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕕𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕤𝕠𝕝𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞.

𝔻𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕒 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕖𝕝𝕕, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕙𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕕𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕕𝕤—𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕒 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕗 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕣 𝕔𝕣𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕝 𝕘𝕒𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘—𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥. ℙ𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕘𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕛𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤. 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕆𝕎𝕃𝕤 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕠 𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕥.

𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪, 𝔽𝕝𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℂ𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤, 𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕒 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤, 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕓𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕞𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕤. 𝕎𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕖 𝕚𝕥’𝕤 𝕠𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕦𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕣 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤, 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℚ𝕦𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕋𝕙��𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔸𝕘𝕖𝕤 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕩𝕥 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕗𝕝𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕜𝕖𝕪 𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕖. 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕚𝕡𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕓𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕞𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜, 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠 𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕒 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕒𝕩𝕖𝕕 𝕘𝕣𝕚𝕡 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕓𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖. ℙ𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕣𝕖𝕘𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕗𝕝𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖.

𝔹𝕪 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕠𝕣𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 𝕥𝕚𝕡𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕖𝕟𝕘𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥, 𝕪𝕠𝕦'𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝-𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕝𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕆𝕎𝕃𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕦𝕟𝕝𝕠𝕔𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕗𝕦𝕝𝕝 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕝. 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕝𝕦𝕔𝕜, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕛𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕖 𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘!

[midnightartemis]

Chapter Two

Rated M - SFW - Read on AO3 - Chapter One - Chapter Three - Masterlist

It had been long said that the Fourth Year was the hardest year at Hogwarts. Ben learned quickly the truth of this statement. His professors dumped assignment after assignment in his lap as if they had realized how little they had taught him over the past three years. Hardly a class went by without a professor mentioning O.W.L.s, still over a year and a half away.

Ben had no time to contemplate anything outside of his studies and soon all thoughts of Vader and darkness were in the back of his mind. While his dreams were dark, he never remembered them after what little sleep he managed.

When he was not in class, he was studying. When he was not studying, he was sleeping. The weekends proved no better and he found himself quite alone on Sunday nights, trying not to think of Rey and the way her nose scrunched up as she tried to jinx him. He missed their time in the Room of Requirement. He missed having a true friend.

Ben shook his head to clear his thoughts and brought his focus back to his half-finished parchment on cursed object detection. While he loved to dive into the theoretical when it came to magic, Luke had the annoying habit of keeping Defense Against the Dark Arts as hands-off as possible. It was highly unlikely his uncle would bring in any cursed objects for the class to view, even though Ben knew for a fact his uncle owned several. This only brought up memories of India that Ben wished to forget and he scowled at his parchment.

“Forget how to read, Solo?” Hux’s voice came from across the common room. This time of night it was filled with students, some studying, some talking quietly around one of the many fires that warmed the perpetually chilly dorms. Hux sat on a plush emerald chair across from his usual cohorts, Phasma and Mitaka, who were giving him questioning looks. Despite being two years younger, Hux was one of the few Slytherins who had never been afraid of Ben or smart enough to leave him alone. Their parents were rivals; that was all the cause Hux needed.

“Forget your place, Huxley?” Ben muttered, not lifting his eyes from his parchment.

Hux frowned. He pushed himself from his chair and sauntered over to the empty table where Ben was working. With one hand, he slammed Ben’s D.A.D.A. book shut. Ben stopped his writing and sat back. Like this, they were the same height. Hux sneered, “Think you’re better than me, half-blood?”

Ben itched to turn Hux’s legs to jelly. Hux was only trying to get a rise out of him, to give his mother ammunition for her articles again. He was saved by a steady voice over his shoulder.

“Watch your tongue, Hux. I seem to remember a muggle-born putting you on your arse last year. Or did you forget? Blood isn’t everything.” Voe Elphrona raised her brow, amused. Her Head Girl badge flashed in the firelight on her robes. A talented witch and a fierce opponent both on and off the Quidditch pitch, Voe was widely respected, even by the likes of Armitage Hux.

Hux’s face turned bright red and he stiffly walked back to his chair. He snapped at Phasma and Mitaka who quickly found something else to look at.

Ben put his head back down though he could still feel Voe and her friends standing behind him. Only a moment passed before Voe took a seat across from him. Her friends - namely, the other Prefects - Tai, Hennix, Bazine, and Grummgar, made for the largest, most central couch in the common room, scaring off a flock of First Years.  

What did she want?

“Mind if I join you?” Voe’s silvery eyes flashed. It wasn’t a question. “We’ve just gotten back from our meeting with Professor Tarkin. Seems you’ve made the shortlist for Prefect next year. Maybe even Head Boy, one day.”

Ben sat up a little straighter. Head Boy. He’d dreamed of it even as a child. If they made him Head Boy, maybe then they would see him as something other than an enemy. “And?”

“I agree.” Voe tilted her head toward the rest of the group. “We think you’re really the only Fourth Year qualified enough. Best if we mentor you properly.”

“Why?” Everyone wanted something from him. Slytherins rarely ever did anything from the goodness of their hearts. Not when there was something to be gained. It was a fact of life now. Even Rey had wanted things from him. Knowledge. Training. He had gladly given it, even for just a sliver of her friendship. “What do you want?”

Voe grinned, revealing sharp incisors as white and luminous as her hair. Every year to scare the first years, there was a rumor spread that Voe’s grandmother was part vampire. How someone could only be part vampire, Ben had no clue. “Your mother will not be Minister of Magic forever. All I ask is your support for when I take her place.”

A political move then. “I’m not exactly a person you want on your side.”

The young witch only shrugged. “We will see.”

Ben glanced at the cohort sitting around the fireplace. Tai and Hennix sat across from each other in high-backed chairs, each carefully studying a game of Wizard’s Chess. Beside them on the couch, Grummgar sat like he owned the common room with Bazine lounging at his side. She flicked through radio stations with her wand, a bored look on her face. He’d be hard-pressed to call them friends, but what Voe was offering wasn’t friendship.

“They will make you stronger. And one day, they will bow before you.” The voice in his mind whispered.

“Doubts?”

“No.” Ben met her eye. “I fail to see how this is worth my time. Support for Minister of Magic comes at a high cost.”

There was no doubt in Ben’s mind that Voe could take that position if she wanted to. The Elphronas were an old pureblood family, powerful and wealthy. They had long held seats in the ministry, both before and after the war. Her father was currently Ambassador to the United States.

“I can offer you mentorship, a favor, and access.” Voe’s steady eyes studied him as if she had come to realize that Ben would not be anyone’s prey. This fact only drew her in more.

“Access to what?”

Voe leaned across the table and took Ben’s quill from his inkwell. On a scratch piece of parchment, she wrote out something in thin, spidery letters. Once she was finished, she drew her aspen wand and tapped the parchment. Her charm work settled over the parchment in a silver haze. She stood and offered it to him. Her fingers brushed against his as he took it. “Midnight. Don’t be late. Or don’t come at all.”

Ben looked down at the blank piece of parchment.

☽◯☾

It had taken him longer than he would like to admit to deconstruct Voe’s spell work. The most basic charm to reveal hidden things, Revelio, had no effect on the parchment whatsoever except to make a mark on the corner like a small tally. An attempt at Aparecium, a similar but far more powerful charm made to reveal hidden text, produced nothing but a second tally.

Voe had revealed nothing, so Ben erred on the side of caution and worked with the idea that he had one attempt remaining to reveal the text. His next attempt had to be the right one. One hour 'til midnight, Ben hadn't moved from the common room table. The enchanted parchment and textbooks floated in front of him at eye level. The common room had cleared of First through Third Years for their 11 pm curfew. All who remained were upperclassmen studying, playing wizard’s chess, or quietly speaking to one another.

At eleven, the Prefects sitting at the couch stood to start their nightly rounds. Voe winked at him as she passed with Bazine, Grummgar, Tai and Hennix trailing behind her. Ben stared hard at his books as they passed. He only looked up when Tai paused by the table. The sixth-year stood at an average height and looked skinny in his robes, but Ben knew better. The wizard had a controlled and dexterous strength that made him an excellent Seeker. His mind was just as sharp when it came to potions. His dark hair was closely shaven, nearly bald.

“Don’t overthink it, Solo.”

Ben gave him a short nod and the boy walked off.

Don’t overthink it. Voe Elphrona was not one to play tricks. She could be devious, yes, but she never hid what she truly desired. Power. Prestige. Voe had dealt him a secret and this was her test. Though Voe excelled in all areas of magic she put her talent, it was not Charms but Transfiguration she excelled at. Revealing charms would not work to reveal the text on the parchment because she had transfigured the marked parchment to a blank one.

Ben swept the tip of his wand across the parchment. “Reparifage.”

The untransfiguration spell took effect immediately as Voe’s script reappeared on the page. Any elation at solving Voe’s puzzle vanished as Ben looked down at the runes.

ᛁᚳ ᛒᚢᛖ ᛒᛖᚾᛁᛞᚻᚪᚾ ᛋᛖ ᛚᛁᚠᛏ, ᛋᛖ ᛖᚩᚱᚦᛖ, ᛋᛖ ᛚ, ᚷᛖᚾ,

ᛁᚳ ᛒᚢᛖ ᚩᚠᛖᚱ ᛋᛖ ᚪᛚ

ᛘᛁᚾ ᚷᛖᛋᛏᛠᛚ ᚪᚾᚻᛠᛚᛞᛖ ᚻᚹᛁᛚᚳ ᛚᛖᚩᚱᚾᛖᛋᛏᚱᚪᚾ ᚪᛋᛖᚳᛖᛋᛏ

ᛋᚳᚩᛚᛞᛖ ᚦᚢ ᚪᚾᚻᛁᛖᛚᛋᛏ ᛖᚠᛖᚾᛘᛖᛞᚢᛘᛘᛖ, ᚪᛋᚳᚪ, ᛁᚳ ᚪᚳᚹᛇᚦ

“Accio rune book.” The book flew from his book bag and floated in front of him. He worked quickly as there was less than an hour to translate and solve the message. It was easy enough to translate the Anglo-Saxon Runes to their Latin counterparts. From there, however, things grew more tedious. Words varied from region to region. There were a few words he recognized, however. Lyft often referred to air. Eorthe to earth, as in soil or ground.

Quarter to midnight, Ben grabbed his cloak of Invisibility from his bag and hurried out the common room door.

I live beneath the air, the earth, the water...

Assuming the entrance was in the castle, only a few dungeon halls that ran beneath the lake. The first, of course, being the common room and dormitory halls. The halls beneath the lake were some of the oldest in the castle and rumored to have been there before even the four founders arrived. They were dimly lit by the same green light found in the potions classroom and Slytherin house.

Yet, I live above the fire…

My frame holds what all students seek…

He had never seen a fireplace or torch in the halls beneath the lake. Not in all his time at Hogwarts. Nor did he recollect any paintings. Most paintings preferred to be in the warmer, dryer halls. Ones where they could be seen.  In truth, he had never paid much attention. Ben hurried, not bothering to stick to the shadows. The halls were empty this time of night. Not a witch or wizard in sight. Most students and staff avoided this part of the castle.

The air grew colder and colder as he walked deeper and deeper into mostly forgotten halls beneath the lake. He came to a staircase that took him further still. The cold, musty smell in the air was the only sign of how far beneath the lake he was now. It was nearing midnight now, any minute.

“Further still, young Skywalker,”  The voice whispered.

Up ahead, came a soft glow of firelight, one he had never noticed before.

He hurried towards it and found that it came from a short hall - really it was more of a small chamber - with no doors, no windows. Just dark stone that curved into an arched ceiling. Five brightly burning flames sat in low stone pillars near the walls. Two on each side and one at the head of the chamber. Above them hung five large paintings, taller than he was.

If ye be worthy, ask, and I shall answer.

None of the paintings were the same but for the fact that they all depicted different items held in ghostly hands. To his left, a sword and a wand. To his right, a key and a book. And in the fifth frame at the head of the room, the ghostly hands stirred a bubbling cauldron.

Sword. Wand. Key. Book. Cauldron.

A sword could represent power- same as a wand. Sought by students, yes. Voe certainly would be one of them. Yet, this was no longer Voe’s puzzle. This was something older.

A bubbling cauldron lived above flame, but did students seek it? What did it represent?

A key. Access. A way to open locked and forbidden items. Doors.

Knowledge.

The book.

Students sought knowledge held within the frame of a book. One could ask and a book would answer.

In the distance, the midnight bells rang throughout Hogwarts’ halls. He was out of time.

If ye be worthy, ask, and I shall answer.

Ben turned to the painting of the book. The ghostly hands held it closed in their grasp. Ben took a deep breath. “What knowledge do you hide?”

For a moment, nothing happened. Ben held his breath. The final toll of the midnight bells rang out. Had he failed? Was he too late?

Before his eyes, the hands parted, letting the book fall open in their palms. The painting began to shimmer as if it were a pool of rippling water. A portal.

Ben stepped through to the other side.

☽◯☾

A curtain of warmth passed over him as he stepped through the portal. The feeling of this magic was not unlike the entrance to Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station. Though, t his portal did not lead to a train platform on the other side.

Ben found himself standing on the top step of an amphitheater made of stone similar to the halls he had come from. Four sets of stairs descended towards the arena floor, sectioning off low stone seating. There was no portal behind him, only stone and an arch marked with runes. The arches surrounded the amphitheater and gave support to the room’s domed roof. At first, Ben thought the ceiling was made of obsidian, but a closer look revealed that he was still beneath the Black Lake. Deep beneath. Strange shadowy shapes rippled through the water behind the glass.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it.” Voe’s voice echoed through the amphitheater. She stood on the other side of the pit beneath a similarly marked arch. She glanced up at the arch above him and made an amused sound. The corners of her lips curled up in a smile. “Interesting choice.”

“Choice?”

Voe stepped away from her arch and down the stairs into the pit. The low heels of her shoes clicked with every step. Ben stayed at his arch, though there was no longer a portal there. No way to get out.

“Everyone must solve the riddle to pass through a portal. How you solve the riddle… That is the choice. Any of the paintings will reveal a portal if you ask it to.”

He’d chosen the book. Knowledge. Why?

“I’d say you have questions unanswered. Hidden from you. Knowledge you desire to obtain. Yet, everyone is a closed book to you.” Voe stepped onto the floor of the arena. She looked around the arena before turning her gaze back to Ben. “Am I correct?”

Ben said nothing.

Voe took his silence as answer enough. She drew her wand and turned around the firelit arena. “Have you figured it out yet?”

He looked at the stone closer, seeing the cracks and burns that covered the dark stone. The floor where Voe stood, the center of the arena, was painted in fading golden runes and protective sacred geometry.

“Dueling.” Ben stepped away from the arch and started down the stairs into the pit. “Who knows about this?”

“A select few. Those who aren’t given the secret cannot find this place.”

“A Fidelius Charm?” Ben had only read of the charm. It was an incredibly difficult spell that only very powerful witches and wizards could manage. The spell concealed a secret in a primary keeper’s very soul. A place protected by the Fidelius Charm was completely hidden from the world. Unplottable. Not even the most powerful revealing magic could make the place known. The only way for someone to find a hidden place was for the primary keeper to reveal the information of their own will. Whoever gained that information would then be able to find the hidden place. But they had no power to reveal the secret themselves. Now that Ben knew, he would not be able to tell of this place to another soul, even if he wished to.

Voe nodded. “Some of the greatest duels in history were fought in this very room. When dueling was banned, this place was forgotten by almost everyone, except for two Prefects. They created the riddle and hid it all with the Fidelius charm. It’s been passed down ever since to those who… Craved knowledge as you do. Now more than ever, knowledge is power. And if Professor Skywalker refuses to teach us properly...”

“We have to teach ourselves.” Ben finished.

Voe grinned. “Precisely.”

“Where are the others?”

“They’ll be here any moment.” Voe flicked her wand and the amphitheater chamber filled with blue light. The markings beneath Ben’s feet began to glow. Voe stepped out of the circle formed by the runes and flicked her wand once more. From the circle, a wall of blue light formed, cracking with protective blue energy.

Ben bared his wand. It seemed as the new initiate, he would be going first tonight. Soft wooshes filled the room as students appeared in the arches. Tai and Hennix came first. Followed closely by Bazine and Grummgar. Grummgar immediately placed a galleon in Bazine’s hand at the sight of Ben. Next came Cal Kestis, Gryffindor Head Boy, and Merrin Nightsister, Head Girl. Jyn Erso, a Fourth Year Hufflepuff, stumbled in from the opposite portal. Not long after her came the only other one from Hufflepuff, Dorra, a Prefect, through the same portal. From Ravenclaw, Tam Ryvora, Pammich Goode, Mira Syntel.

The ten students filed in quietly. Tense anticipation hung in the air. Ben paced the edge of the ring, heart pounding. No one had yet approached the ring. Each house took a seat in their own quarter of the arena, though there was nothing to designate who sat where. Voe stood on the steps between Slytherin and Ravenclaw, arms crossed. She tapped her wand impatiently against her arm.

“Is he coming or not, Kestis?” Voe turned her steely eyes to Cal.

“Give him a minute.” The redheaded seventh year looked unbothered as he lounged next to Merrin. “He’s got time.”

One last whoosh echoed in the amphitheater announcing the arrival of the final participant. Poe Dameron stepped through the arch. Ben felt his blood heat. Dameron looked around the amphitheater with a smirk.

“Waiting for me?”

“The first and the last.” Voe gestured to the ring. Dameron’s eyes landed on Ben and Ben fought back a small smile as Dameron hesitated. “Unless you’d like to leave?”

Dameron swallowed and descended the steps. He stepped through the ring of blue energy, wand drawn.

“Let the rules be known.” Voe raised her wand to the arena. “No contact. No unforgivable curses. No magic which will cause permanent harm. The duel will begin with a bow and end when one duelist is rendered incapacitated or house heads call for a cease fire. I wish you both best of luck. You may begin.”

Cheers rang from the dozen and a half students filling the stone seats of the amphitheater. From the Gryffindor section came shouts of, “Dam-er-on! Dam-er-on!” Not unlike those chanted on the Quidditch pitch. Dameron ate every ounce of it, lifting his hands to egg it on.

How he’d like to put Dameron on his arse. How he’d like to see the cocky bastard get taken down a peg. Ben raised his wand, pointed to the ceiling as Dameron pulled his redwood wand from his back pocket. Poe bowed first, low and mocking, playing to his crowd of supporters. It seemed that Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had taken his side. The Slytherins, on the other hand, seemed somewhat uninterested. Voe watched with a domineering gaze. Ben dipped his head in a shallow bow to Dameron.

“Focus. Feel the anger, the hate inside of you. Let it fuel you. Control it, young Skywalker.”

Ben stepped into his dueling position, breathing deeply. Poe raised his wand, but neither student moved to fire the first shot. Poe grinned, “So, who goes first? You go first? I go fir-”

Ben flicked his wand, shooting off a nonverbal jinx. Poe leaped out of the way, throwing up a weak protego. Shock crossed the boy’s face, but quickly morphed into focused anger. They weren’t required to start nonverbal spells until Sixth Year, a fact that Dameron very well knew.

Ben was not here to go easy on the Gryffindor Fourth Year. He fired off spell after spell, each slamming into Dameron’s shields. A memory of Rey practicing protego, her grin as she managed the smallest shield, popped unbidden into his head. It was enough to throw him off, to give Dameron a chance to hit back.

“Aguamenti!” A jet stream of water barrelled towards Ben from Poe’s wand. The water hit Ben hard in the gut and knocked him to the floor. All the air in his lungs rushed out of him. Whoops and shouts and laughter echoed through the stone room.

Poe looked towards Voe in the stands. The witch shrugged as Ben stood. “He can still cast. He’s not done yet.”

He was soaking wet now, blood pounding in his ears. Poe shot a disarming spell at him and Ben deflected it. The wall crackled with energy. There was nowhere to go. Poe shifted to his left and the dance began. They circled each other, waiting for the right moment. Blood rushing, Ben pounced first. Poe jumped away from the impediment jinx and fired back a red bolt. Ben pointed his wand at the spell, not even thinking. The red beam hung in the air, frozen in time.

A gasp rippled through the amphitheater.  

How?

How was he doing this?

Before he could comprehend, his spell wavered and Poe’s stunning spell hit him square in the chest. Ben flew back and hit the wall of light surrounding them. He fell to the floor, limp. Uproarious cheers of victory filled the arena at the fall of Ben Solo.

He woke as the blue wall surrounding the dueling ring lowered. He pushed himself up off the stone, an ache in his chest. Come morning, he would feel as if he had been hit by one of his father’s muggle cars. Or by the Hogwarts Express.

Poe had already climbed the stairs of the arena to the rest of the Gryffindors, who met him with high fives and congratulations. Ben crossed over to the Slytherin seats, passing Voe as she came down the stairs. She gave him a cold, appraising look.

Ben took his seat near the other Slytherins. Tai was the only one to turn to him. “How did you do that?”

“I don’t know.” Ben shrugged and winced. “It just happened.”

“It couldn’t have been the Freezing Charm, could it? Something similar. Perhaps the Slowing Charm. But you didn’t slow it, not really. I didn’t even know you could slow or stop spells, not like that. Are you sure you didn’t use a spell?”

“I’m sure.” Ben couldn’t help but glare at Poe. From the dueling ring, Voe announced the next contenders- the new initiates from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. There was no doubt in his mind that Rey would be chosen to join the club in her Fourth Year. Would he still be here? He wasn’t sure. He hadn’t been for a while. It wasn’t a future he could imagine. He hoped that he would be, just to see the poor sod who had to face her. He hoped it would be Hux.

“-could try a prior incantation charm to take a closer look at it.” Tai hadn’t stopped talking. “Surely, Professor Kuiil would know something about it.”

“No.” The last thing he needed was for word to get back to Luke or Kenobi or his parents of his wand doing strange things.

“Right. Can’t talk about this outside of this room. Still, very interesting.” Tai noted.

“Very impressive.” Bazine eyed Ben. Her gaze desired to devour him. “Most entertaining initiation duel I’ve seen. Usually, everyone is so meek and timid. Voe always tries to pair up rivals, but,” Bazine sighed, “once they step into the ring… poof. Scared little kittens.”

Grummgar grunted in agreement.

Below them in the dueling circle, Jyn Erso faced off against Myra Syntel. It lasted all of two seconds as Jyn hit Myra with a perfect Full Body-Bind Curse. The young Ravenclaw, who had been trying to perfect her attack stance, fell face first on the stone with legs glued together and arms stuck to her sides. Jyn ran over to her and quickly undid the curse, helping Myra sit up. Blood from a broken nose ran down the girl’s face. A simple utterance of ‘ Episkey’ had her back on her feet.

Memories of the Trophy Room were quick to resurface. He’d been sitting in the common room late that night studying for a test in A History of Magic when Hux barged through the common room door, loudly bragging to anyone who would listen of how he ‘showed that mudblood a lesson’ and left her in the trophy room. Ben had gone to help her without a second thought.

Ben pushed the memory deeper into the dark recesses of his mind. She had been his one and only friend and now he wishes they had never met. She was a distraction now. One that could prove destructive. He wished he could bottle up all the memories of her and toss them away. He wished he could forget.

Rated M - SFW - Read on AO3 - Chapter One - Chapter Three - Masterlist

[yatorihell]

In The Darkness Chapter 70 - Sectumsempra

Noragami x Harry Potter AU

Words: 3,429

Summary: The trio tries to find what Nora is doing with disastrous consequences.

Also available on Yatorihell AO3

As expected, Slytherin lost to Hufflepuff by a landslide.

The team captain didn’t even bother looking in Yato’s direction once the match ended; he was probably glad to see the back of the supposed ‘Best Seeker’ Hogwarts had ever seen.

Once again, Hiyori and Yukine found Yato in the library following the defeat. It was alive with fifth and seventh years students in a never-ending cycle of revision and studying as they reached the halfway point of the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s exams. Something that Yato really should’ve been doing.

“Why did I get back into Quidditch?” Yato said morosely. He had his head on his arm, stretched out across the table. He received a few dirty looks from a group of fifth-year Hufflepuffs who were trying to find a space to study.

Hiyori and Yukine exchanged looks but didn’t answer the rhetorical question.

“At least you won’t have to play Gryffindor for the cup,” Hiyori said helpfully.

It was slightly helpful. But there was a tinge of sadness that he wouldn’t be playing Quidditch anymore – at least not in Hogwarts, or for his house.

Yato straightened himself and spread his hands on the table with a sigh. “One less thing to worry about, I guess.”

“And it looks like Nora has stopped too,” Yukine commented. “The last thing she did was the wine, and that was before Christmas.”

Yato hummed. Nora had been evasive the entire year – except for her kidnapping and murder attempts –, and now she was openly glaring at him at every turn. He could only feel that something larger was at work.

His mind began to scheme. If Nora was planning something… he could catch her in the act. He’d have the proof he needed that she was the one who sent the necklace and the wine to kill Professor Tenjin.

“Has she been acting differently?” Yato asked, trying to seem nonchalant. “Aside from the murderous stares I’ve been getting.”

“We’ve been getting,” Hiyori corrected. “I can feel eyes burning in the back of my head in classes I have with her.”

Yukine plopped his chin in his hand, looking thoughtful. “Well, she leaves dinner early almost every day.”

Yato perked up. It had become so repetitive that in his distractions he’d gotten used to seeing Nora leave at least half an hour before everyone else, but Yukine had always noticed from his seat on the end of Hufflepuff’s table.

“Do you know where she’s been going to?” Yato asked.

Yukine shrugged. “Dunno, upstairs somewhere. I don’t think it's a book club.”

“You said that she goes every day?” Yato reaffirmed.

Hiyori could sense trouble brewing from Yukine’s frown. He didn’t like it when Yato showed an interest; it usually led to bad things. “Yeah, every day.”

“Well then,” Yato said. “Let’s find out what she’s up to.”

~

After some protesting from Hiyori and Yukine – and some convincing from Yato that he would need someone to keep him out of trouble anyway – the plan was set.

The next day, Yato, Hiyori and Yukine waited inside the Great Hall at dinnertime. They waited, watching for the moment.

As expected, Nora stood and left, heading up the grand staircase. In unison, Yato, Hiyori, and Yukine stood up and left the Great hall, dinner half-eaten.

When she disappeared around the corner of the stairs, they followed at a pace that seemed too close for comfort. The moving staircases proved difficult to maneuver as they tried not to lose her in the labyrinth of hallways. They’d agreed to split up in case she caught onto the fact she was being followed or tried to use any of the secret passages that led out of Hogwarts.

Yukine split away on the fourth floor where a tunnel was hidden behind a mirror. Hiyori left on the fifth floor at the tunnel guarded by a statue of Gregory the Smarmy, but by the time Yato reached the seventh floor, there was no sign of Nora.

Yato cursed under his breath and paused. There were no signs of life aside from the lit torches set into the walls, but it did nothing to help him. He was careful to stay hidden in case Nora was just around the corner, but she was never there. There were no more tunnels higher than the fifth floor, making it impossible for Nora to have slipped past them. He checked every open classroom and listened at every closed door, checked behind the troll ballet tapestry.

Nothing. Nora had vanished into thin air.

Yato begrudgingly made his way back down to the sixth floor. He found Hiyori at her post by the statue. She seemed surprised to see him.

“Don’t tell me you lost her?” Hiyori said.

Yato would’ve been annoyed at the incredulous way she said it, but he was out of breath from the stairs. “She just disappeared.”

Hiyori frowned. “She hasn’t been down this way – no one has. She must be up there somewhere.”

Yato froze with sudden realisation. “You don’t think…”

“She’s using the Room of Requirement?” Hiyori finished.

It clicked into place the second it was spoken. Nora disappeared on the seventh floor, and they knew Nora was aware of it; she was the one who led Oshi to them to stop their secret Order of the Phoenix.

Hiyori suddenly placed a hand on Yato’s arm and tugged him into the shadows of an alcove, her gaze locked on something behind him.

Yato turned his head. Footsteps rang on the stone behind them and a second later Nora came barrelling past. She didn’t notice the two of them tucked to the side watching as she rounded the landing and continued her descent.

“Get Yukine,” Yato hissed.

Yato kept his eyes locked on Nora as he tried to keep up. She seemed to stumble as she reached the ground floor, a hand clasped over her mouth. The Great Hall was abandoned, the benches empty and the plates cleared as Yato ducked into the door’s alcove.

Nora’s footsteps receded and as Yato poked his head around the corner, she turned sharply and pushed open the door to the girl’s bathroom.

Yato slowly paced closer and pressed his back to the wall of the bathroom. After a moment, running water sounded from within. He hesitated for a moment, debating whether to go to the Room of Requirement and find what she had done, before following her inside.

The bathroom was filled with rows of empty toilet cubicles that stretched to the right. The tall lattice windows cast grey shadows onto the floor, interrupted by mirrors which hung in front of the basins where Nora was splashing her face with water, breathing heavily.

She didn’t notice Yato’s presence as he stepped inside. The door closed behind him.

“What are you doing?”

Nora startled at the sound of his voice. Her head whipped up so her face, paler than the white tiles, reflected back at him in the mirror. Silence hung in the air between them, thick and cloying as the water trickled down the drain. Nora’s head dipped so she was staring into the sink basin, forcing down bile and tremors that coursed her body.

It set Yato on edge to see her this way. Nora was shaken, and she never showed emotion or weakness. Yato took a step closer, cautious but determined. Nora’s grip tightened on the sink.

“Why are you trying to kill the headmaster?”

“Father…” Nora looked up. Words danced on the tip of her tongue; a secret not meant to be shared.

For a moment Nora looked like the scared little girl he’d met all those years ago, her big eyes looking at up Yato and her hand enclosed with Father’s. And then she was gone. The little girl was dead, replaced by a stoic expression and cold eyes that found his as she turned around.

“Why are you doing this?” Yato asked. “What will it achieve?”

“It would bring you home.”

Yato paused. Nora’s voice was so quiet that he may have misheard her, but she made no mistake in her revelation.

“You were meant to fall in love with me, and you would come home with me, back to Father, and we could be a family again.”

It struck Yato harder than it should have; he knew those chocolates never came from Hiyori in the first place. How could she, a Gryffindor, get into Slytherins dorms to place them? But the idea to have him fall in love with Nora, who could’ve so easily led him back to the Sorcerer, was a new, twisted kind of trick.

“The headmaster would die, and the Ministry would fall…” Nora continued.

She paused and Yato felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

“No one would have to get hurt if you came home.”

Nora fired a spell faster than Yato could draw his own wand. He threw himself to the side, landing harshly on the cold tile, and dragged himself behind a row of toilet cubicles. In the midst of splintering tile and flashes of colour and the fumbling for his own wand, Yato cursed himself for not noticing her sliding her wand from her pocket.

She had tried to kidnap him twice. She had tried to kill the headmaster twice. She had cursed Hiyori, poisoned him, and now she was going to take him back to Father if it was the last thing she did.

Yato couldn’t – wouldn’t – let her take him.

Yato threw himself against a wall and peered around the side, narrowing missing a hit as Nora threw another spell at him. Yato ducked as it exploded against the opposite wall and returned fire. A volley of wordless spells flew between them, crashing against cubicles, mirrors, and pipes that burst in a shower of glass and water.

Yato caught glimpses of Nora reflected in the clouded windows and shattered glass and pools of water, but at every turn she was waiting with deadly recoil of a viper. Overhead, under doors, around corners, the attacks were relentless, zapping Yato’s energy as the water pipes doused him as he ran and sought cover. His wand was warm in his fist when the name came.

“Yaboku…”

Yato’s blood ran cold. The glimpse of a shadow from the corner of his eye brought a fresh bought of rage that he hadn’t felt since... since…

Since Sakura died.

White-hot anger filled Yato. One spell reared in the front of his memory, malicious and perfectly crafted to wield hate and turn it into a deadly weapon. One that would end this.

Yato darted out from his hiding spot and stood side-on, and, before Nora could aim her wand, cursed.

“Sectumsempra!”

Nora’s winded shriek was cut short by a thump and a tinkling of glass.

Yato edged forward, wand still tight in his hand. Water gushed from the pipes and created a mirrored pool on the floor that reflected the stormy scene beyond the darkened lattice windows. His footsteps rippled the water as he rounded the corner.

Nora lay on her back, wand cast to the side. Blood blossomed through her clothes, saturating them and diluting the water around her until the tendrils had seeped around his shoes. Her chest rose and fell quickly with a mixture of gurgled coughs and cries.

Yato froze. The blood rushed to his ears, blocking out the sound of someone entering the bathroom and their mortified words. A whoosh of black robes brushed by his side – Madame Kofuku, her face stricken as she looked down at Nora, the blood, the spell she knew all too well. She dropped to her knees, wands in hand and already moving over the expanse of Nora’s shredded body, chanting over and over again ‘Vulnera Sanentur’.

Yato felt his stomach as he bolted out of the room.

The look Professor Tenjin had given him during the hour-long tirade and interrogation about where he had learned such a spell had reduced Yato’s mind to numbness. He admitted everything: how he got the book from Madame Kofuku, cheated in tests, and learned the spell without realising until he snapped.

Yato felt worse when Madame Kofuku joined them. He’d thrown her under the bus, and now she may be fired the same way Daikoku was.

“She’s fine,” Madame Kofuku said as she gently closed the door. “Bruised and shaken, but fine.”

Yato couldn’t even feel angry at that; what he’d done was dark, despicable. Exactly what Father wanted him to be.

Professor Tenjin closed his eyes with another deep sigh. His eyebrows pinched together, and Yato waited to be expelled. Finally, he spoke.

“You can’t take back what you’ve done,” Professor Tenjin said bitterly. He opened his eyes with a gaze that pierced straight through Yato. “But that book must not pass through anyone’s hands. Do you understand?”

Yato felt his stomach knot. Madame Kofuku hadn’t taught him the spell, not directly, not intentionally. It was a forgotten spell, concealed in a book twenty years old that should have never seen the light of day. Her kindness to help him had hurt another and risked her own position at Hogwarts, and for that he alone was responsible.

Yato nodded. He understood.

Yato left the office and made his way down the winding staircase, the book in hand. It was nearly curfew by the time he reached the main hallway, but students still lingered in the dying sunlight in the courtyard. He could feel eyes on him, the looks thrown in his direction by students who knew what he had done.

Madman, monster, murderer, his thoughts taunted as he tried to ignore their gazes.

Yato was surprised to find Hiyori stood outside the Great Hall, her arms wrapped around her waist as she looked around. There was no sign of Yukine; he was probably already back in the dorms. As soon Hiyori’s eyes caught on him she released herself and took a step forward.

Yato stopped short and hid the book behind his back, as a defense to keep her from the terrible spell within it, knowing what it could do. What he had done.

Hiyori’s eyes caught on it, and she could tell that whatever it was, it wasn’t something he wanted to talk about.

“I need to get rid of something…” Yato trailed off.

Hiyori paused for a second, eyes lowered to where the book rested behind his back and nodded. “Ok, I’ll see you -,”

“Will you come with me?”

The question was rushed in a breath, tentative and desperate. It surprised her – he could see it in the slight way she was taken aback by the directness. He half-expected her to say no, that it was almost curfew, but she didn’t.

“Ok.”

Hiyori fell into step beside Yato as they ascended the grand staircase, the book hidden by his side. They walked in silence, past the dimly lit torches that spread light through the darkened halls as they left the world behind.

When they arrived on the seventh floor Hiyori wondered if Yato was still fixed on finding what Nora had done, until she caught a glimpse of the book behind his back as he opened the door of the Room of Requirement and held it for her.

Hiyori stepped inside. The Room of Requirement had morphed into what they needed – into what Yato needed – right at that moment. Gone were the light fixtures and broken lattice windows, the Deatheater dummies, and the fireplace that kept them warm through training sessions.

The room was stacked high with an assortment of junk. Broken chandeliers that had hung in the Great Hall, tomes and parchments motheaten and rotten, boxes and artifacts and wardrobes and chairs stack high in towers that would fall like a Jenga tower if one item was removed. A tall wooden cabinet stood against the nearest heap, its door slightly ajar yet empty.

The door softly closed behind her, and Hiyori turned.

Yato seemed just as surprised to see the dumpsite as her, but he knew the clue was in the name. Whatever you need, the room would provide. His eyes left the caving towers and found Hiyori. Only now did he pull the book from behind his back and hold it in both hands. He looked down at it, the very thing that had helped him and hurt another.

The silence stretched between them before he held it out to Hiyori.

Hiyori took it gently and read the smeared cover before she flipped it open. It was a Potions textbook, graffitied and worn with age.

“It’s Madame Kofuku’s old textbook,” Yato said.

Hiyori spared him a glance but he wouldn’t meet it. He explained how Madame Kofuku saw him struggle, how she mastered every potion and gave him her book to help, and how he used it to win the Liquid Luck.

All through it, Hiyori listened.

Hiyori flicked through the pages, taking in the expansive notes and edits beside each potion. It fell into place how Yato had become so good at potions, besting Yukine for the entire year no matter the task.

“This is where I…” The questioning look Hiyori gave him was nearly enough for Yato to recoil, to take the book and tell her to leave him to do this himself, but he swallowed it down. “Found the spell.”

The silence stretched endlessly, and Yato felt his blood run cold. He wondered if Hiyori would leave, tell him not to come near her ever again.

Madman, monster, murderer.

But Hiyori never spoke or moved. She looked at him, not with pity, but with the understanding that he had the weight of the world on his shoulders and made stupid mistakes that he couldn’t take back.

“We need to hide it, so no one will find it again,” Yato looked around, unable to her gaze. “This seems like the best place.”

Few people knew of the Room of Requirement. Merlin’s Cave could’ve been hidden within it and they would be none the wiser.

“Alright, close your eyes.”

Yato looked at Hiyori. Her grip had tightened on the book, but her eyes were clear with intent. He opened his mouth to question, but she cut him off.

“That way you can't be tempted. Close your eyes.”

Yato closed his mouth, and after a moment, his eyes.

He could hear the gentle tap of her footsteps retreat, disappearing and meandering through the lost treasures the room held. He heard his own breathing in the silence, waiting, telling himself not to peak, to avoid the temptation. He was so entranced with his own thoughts that he didn’t realise Hiyori had come back, or perhaps she had meant to sneak up on him.

A smile tugged at Hiyori’s lips as her eyes roamed over his face, taking in and seeing how much he had grown from the boy she had met. He was still taller than her, but she didn’t complain. She watched Yato’s expression; the way his eyes moved beneath his eyelids as he fought the urge to open his eyes, the gentle breath that passed through his lips.

Hiyori felt a pull, but she ignored it. Whatever he had said under a love potion wasn’t real. The feelings that she had for him were just a crush that would fade, even if it had been years since she had realised she liked him. The way he smiled at her, the way he protected her, these were all things friends do for each other.

Still, she could tease him as much as he teased her.

“Maybe I can stay hidden up here if you like.”

Yato startled, but a smile twitched in the corner of his mouth. Her voice was little more than a whisper, unbelievably close to his face, so close that he could feel the heat of her breath and the smell of her warmth.

Yato’s eyes begged to open, even flutter, but he kept them shut as promised. He hesitated before he found the courage to move his head closer to where he thought she should be, seeking her out with the same desperation he would for the Snitch. He didn’t know what he may have said or done whilst under the effects of the love potion, but he knew everything was true when she was only a breath away from him. She must have known it too.

She said nothing more, and after a moment of waiting the door clicked shut behind him.

Yato opened his eyes, and Hiyori was gone.

[mister-tom-a-dildo-lover]

Strive Pt. 17

{PART 1} {PART 2} {PART 3} {PART 4} {PART 5} {PART 6} {PART 7} {PART 8} {PART 9} {PART 10} {PART 11} {PART 12} {PART 13} {PART 14} {PART 15} {PART 16}

Pair: Tomarry

Rating: M-E(depends)

Tags: Mild Language, Homosexuality, Sexism, Obsessed Tom, Time-Travel/Dimension-Travel, Teacher/Student, Eventual Romance, Teacher-Harry, Grey!Harry, MoD(sort of), Death!being,

Everything picked up after the very first Dueling Club meeting. Professor Potter seemed even busier than before, and that was because he'd been made the new Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts. And that particular revaluation was met with intense applause from all of the students. Because he'd quickly become everyone's favourite after the first term had begun and he'd proven himself.

The Monday after the first Dueling Club meeting, Headmaster Dippet stood and gave a long and tedious speech that was far too long to anyone's good, about how Dumbledore had other business to attend to and could not dedicate enough time to being the Deputy. Therefore, it was after some consideration and a vote by the staff, that Professor Potter take up Dumbledoire's former position. And Dumbledore was scarcely seen except in class after that.

Tom knew what it was truly about though. Having a member of your staff being investigated by law enforcement for nefarious actions toward not only students of your school, but also toward high-ranking families in the British community, would make Dippet look bad. Especially if he allowed Dumbledore to keep such a position of power. Therefore replacing Dumbledore was basically done to save his own hide and keep him in people's good graces.

Ever since then, Dumbledore hadn't been taking or giving points either. While curious, Tom could guess about what had happened. Still, Slytherin had a bet going around. Some thought he was trying to appear innocent while others were of the belief that he was no longer allowed to handle House points. Tom was among those who supported the latter claim, not that he would tell anyone. It might give some of them ideas. Ideas along the line of them being important to him in any way, which a negative.

Dumbledore having no power in the school was good enough for him though. And he was pleased with Professor Potter being the new Deputy Head, even if it meant that the man was far too busy to really do anything outside of classwork. But the man still managed to make everything work in the end, and Tom couldn't only admire him the more for it.

Lord Malfoy, according to Abraxas, was ecstatic. After all, Dumbledore had tipped off the Aurors and participated in the raiding of Malfoy Manor, even if it was done from afar. So seeing him crashing and burning was certainly something he reveled in. Tom was as equally pleased, but managed to appear unaffected most of the time. So as not to appear cocksure and ruin his image. It was especially important now to play the good boy because the investigation included him to an extent, so he had to be nice until the Aurors had all they needed.

While Dumbledore's drama was entertaining and was enough to keep people in line, Tom was focused more on others things at present. Specifically, the Animagus training he was about to take up. He'd discovered a way to keep a Mandrake leaf in his mouth without it falling out or him accidentally chewing it to pieces. Since Tom couldn't afford silence for a month straight, nor could he neglect to eat, he had to think up another method.

Which lead him to the thin piece of glamoured metal that he'd wrapped the leaf around. He then covered that in protective charms so it wouldn't get destroyed, and used a sticking charm to adhere it to one of his molars so it couldn't go anywhere. It didn't obstruct his speech too much, and he had finally gotten another skill of his under control. Said skill would work to trick others into thinking he was talking when he was actually using his mind only.

His Occlumency training had advanced even further over the holidays and he'd managed to finish his mind palace that was an imitation of Hogwarts. And with his strengthened control over his magic, he'd managed to perfect a little skill he'd cultivated when he was young. But instead of ordering animals to do whatever he wanted them to do, now he simply 'spoke' normally. All without opening his mouth. But his voice still came out anyway, and should he move his mouth, no one would notice the difference. At least none of the students would be smart enough to notice.

Tom felt so proud of himself. He wondered if Professor Potter would be amazed by this new undertaking. After all, how many people were capable of the same thing? This had to put him above his peers in the man's eyes. After all, Tom was the only student currently capable of a corporeal Patronus, and he would be training his Animagus ability soon, which would mean he and Potter would share advanced skills finally. Meaning Tom would be doing better than his fellow seventh years were, just like Professor Potter expected of him.

The N.E.W.T.s were coming upon them very quickly, and Tom had set aside more time for studying now that he didn't need to meditate so often. With a Patronus that was corporeal, and a mind palace, he would say that he'd done well for himself, and he could go back to dividing his attention between personal interests and studying for the end of the year exams. He was confident in his future test scores, since he'd managed twelve O.W.L.s when he was fifteen. Therefore, he should be able to get the same amount in N.E.W.T.s now that he knew better than before.

Many times Tom found himself reading through the book Professor Potter had lent him. He'd learned more about Salazar than any other book had managed to tell him and it was in equal parts amazing and disappointing.

None of the legends or myths surrounding the Slytherin name, were pleasant. Everyone basically 'new' what was the common belief about Slytherin and his views on everything. But in reality, they were very wrong. And it proved the only smart thing Professor Binns had ever said. Legends always held a grain of truth, but were mostly twisted by the victors to appear in their favour.

Since Slytherins had bad reputations, of course people would twist their image even further. And to think, serpents were used as symbols for healing in most societies, but in Magical Britain, they were considered no better than demons. And there were people willing to kill snakes just upon seeing them, simply because they were that prejudiced.

Salazar Slytherin was a cunning man who always thought many steps ahead, and not just for himself, but for the people he considered to be under his protection. Meaning the inhabitants of Hogwarts as a whole.

How the tale of the Founders morphed from four friends searching to protect magic and all it existed within, into three friends and an evil man who sought to control them, made no sense to Tom.

Though he could guess where it started. After all, Slytherin made very specific note of Godric's wife's younger sister and Salazar's son having a falling out which resulted in Godric jumping to conclusions and Salazar having to banish his own son from the castle because Gryffindor couldn't be objective and listen to both sides of the story first.

Which started the feud in a sense, because Godric never used his head in important matters and Salazar's family was forever affected because of it. And in the end, it was revealed the the younger sister had been in the wrong all along, but Godric had refused to apologise even when he'd learned he was wrong, because his ego was too massive to handle it. An that was what ultimately drove the SLytherins from Hogwarts because if a grown man couldn't be bothered to act like one in the end, they Salazar refused to associate with him any longer.

Drama was nowhere near as interesting as people made it seem. A fight over a pet snake had escalated into a feud that lasted centuries. Tom wished time-travel was possible so he could go back and smack everyone involved. He hated stupidity.

Professor Potter had started teaching the fourth years the Patronus Charm and had so casually mentioned that Tom was the only student currently who could perform it. And Tom found himself surrounded by Ravenclaws and a few Hufflepuffs, offering him things in return for assistance.

Many things could be said about the other Houses, but they were not idiots. They knew the best way to a Slytherin's heart was to give them something they wanted in return for services. Give and take was very important in the Slytherin Common Room. It was the basis for many interactions.

Tom found himself with many favours to call upon and even money. In exchange, he set aside one of his studying times a week to help the students out. And to his immense surprise, many of them had already started producing silvery mists.

If this wasn't proof that he was meant to teach, he didn't know what was.

A/N: Another chapter for everyone!