A few days passed, and October arrived. And just as Madame Pomfrey had said, the weather shifted to something much colder and rainier.
Extimum spent these quiet days studying the three books, and today he was ready to return to the infirmary. Although he hadn't truly been able to practise some of the healing spells, he trusted that, with his current mastery of magic and their low difficulty, performing them perfectly wouldn't be an issue.
Among other things, Mitchell had managed to make it onto Ravenclaw's Quidditch team.
Extimum gave him the broom he had promised, and because of that, he no longer had anyone to practise his healing spells with… On the other hand, many had been affected by the weather, triggering a wave of flu and related ailments.
The Quidditch teams hadn't stopped training just because of heavy rain, which made them some of the infirmary's most frequent visitors, whether due to illness or injuries caused by the harsh conditions.
Extimum had also taken the opportunity to go flying on his sword. Soaring high through the sky while dodging the occasional lightning strike and crashing through sheets of rain made it rather enjoyable—perhaps one of the few indulgent lapses he allowed himself.
Speaking of the weather, Extimum hadn't fallen ill; in fact, he didn't recall ever being sick in his life—not even with a simple cold. He didn't know whether it was luck or if his immune system was simply that strong.
As he entered the infirmary, he saw rows of students and even spotted two professors who had come to receive Pepperup Potion, which could cure a cold instantly.
His arrival was noticed by the ever-attentive Madame Pomfrey.
Pomfrey: "Ah, Mr Enoch, I'm glad you've come. You've arrived at a good time. Come and help me distribute the Pepperup Potion doses. Just give one spoonful to each person, and if they've come for anything else, send them to that area."
Pomfrey walked past him, placed a bottle and a spoon beside him, and continued briskly toward the section where she was treating other cases. She seemed quite busy.
Her actions caused the lines of students to focus their attention on him—not only because he was helping Madame Pomfrey, but also because he was now responsible for attending to them.
Extimum: "Good morning, everyone. Please remain in your lines—I'll call you shortly." He didn't think much of it; acting as a nurse was an interesting experience.
Moving to the front of the crowd, he glanced around briefly before pulling a table closer. He placed the bottle on it along with the spoon, then drew his wand.
"Geminio."
A faint light flickered over the spoon, and suddenly it trembled on the table before splitting into six identical copies.
It was a duplication spell he had read about before. He hadn't made much use of it, as objects duplicated this way were only temporary or of lesser quality, but it could be useful in a moment like this.
Satisfied with the result, he moved five of his hidden tails, concealed by the illusion and picked up five of the spoons, taking the last one with his hand.
With his remaining free hand, he poured the potion into each of them.
Extimum: "Right, now—three people from this line and three from the other, please."
With only two lines, he called three people from each.
The people around him admired his use of magic to speed up the process and followed the arrangement.
Sinistra: "A very creative use of the spell for this situation—five points to Ravenclaw."
The Astronomy professor was one of the few teachers suffering from the flu and standing near the front of the line, so she rewarded Extimum for his creativity.
...
Extimum attended to the students—and the occasional professor who arrived—for nearly two hours.
While it might seem like a dull task, it actually provided good practice in sustained spellcasting, as he had to cast "Scourgify" on the spoons after each use. He did so audibly, so the students wouldn't feel uncomfortable sharing them.
Pomfrey had also praised him for his efficiency in handling all the students. Among them, he had seen Astoria; he didn't know whether it was bad luck or if her condition made her more susceptible to falling ill. On the other hand, he didn't speak with her, as they had yet to meet or be formally introduced.
The effects of the Pepperup Potion were immediate: the cold vanished after drinking it, but it caused those who took it to develop a slight flush and to emit steam from their ears for the next few minutes; it was quite an interesting sight.
Pomfrey: "Well then, you've been a great help today. Finish up there and come to the other area—I'll teach you while I treat some of the patients." Pomfrey had come to check on his work at some point and, seeing that only a few people remained, allowed him to assist with students suffering from other ailments or injuries.
Extimum: "Very well."
Only two students remained. However, just as he was about to finish, a very dignified-looking Percy Weasley arrived, dragging Ginny along.
Percy: "Oh, Extimum, have you seen Madame Pomfrey? I've brought Ginny for treatment—she looks very pale. I think she has the flu as well."
Extimum: "That won't be necessary. I'm handling the flu cases."
Extimum gave Ginny a few glances. She truly did look unnaturally pale, but that was something for Harry to deal with; still, he could offer her a bit of help to make her feel better.
Percy: "Oh, and are you authorised to do that?"
Pomfrey: "He is, Percy. I allowed him to assist me. It's only distributing the potion for colds, after all." Pomfrey's voice came from behind Extimum.
Extimum: "Well, you heard her. Here."
He handed him one of the spoons with the potion. It looked no different from the usual, but Extimum had let a drop of his blood fall into it, while no one was paying attention.
He had already discovered that his blood possessed certain healing properties and strong vitality; Bloom was proof of that. And since it had no side effects—at least none he knew of—he offered it to help her recover some of the constant vitality that Voldemort was draining from her.
Naturally, he wasn't worried about helping Voldemort; there was a limit to what he could drain, so the fact that Ginny had more vitality wouldn't strengthen him if he could only extract the same amount over the same period of time.
Percy: "Right, here you go, Ginny." Percy raised no further objections after hearing Madame Pomfrey confirm it and handed the spoon to Ginny, who had remained silent behind him.
The effect was immediate. Like everyone else, her face flushed and steam came out of her ears, but there was also a faint spark of life in her previously dull gaze.
After that, nothing of great importance occurred. Pomfrey taught him while treating other students and answered some of his questions along the way; she seemed quite pleased to teach a student all the precautions and care required when using magic, as well as how to heal injuries if things went wrong.
Extimum even found himself wondering why there wasn't a class like this; it was a very important subject—at the very least, senior students should know basic healthcare and how to treat injuries.
Aside from those inclined to become Healers, Potions Masters, or perhaps Herbologists, there wasn't a subject that taught something that could truly save or improve a wizard's life.
Of course, the Hogwarts library contained such information, but it depended on whether you were willing to look for it—something most young witches and wizards wouldn't bother to do unless asked.
They had far too many other interests to make time to learn it on their own.
Extimum: "Perhaps I should suggest it to the Hogwarts Board of Governors… or to Dumbledore." Although the curriculum was regulated by the Ministry, the Headmaster and the Hogwarts Board of Governors also had some power to change things.
As far as he knew, the Hogwarts Board of Governors was made up of twelve wizards who oversaw the school's activities and took action if parents raised complaints. He also knew one of its members: Lucius Malfoy.
.
For now, Extimum had set aside creating magical artefacts for his business and devoted the rest of the month to studying healing magic. He had made some progress in developing a set of shoelaces that would increase the wearer's lightness, making them more agile.
On the other hand, he had sent Bloom back to London via Floo to purchase the "Mandrake Restorative Draught."
Mandrakes weren't particularly rare in the wizarding world; however, they couldn't be found just anywhere either. There were usually greenhouses and specialised shops that cultivated them due to the risks involved in handling them.
Even so, there were occasional accidents in which some unfortunate individual wasn't careful and died because of them; that was why they were covered in Herbology class.
He had sent Bloom with the help of Professor Flitwick, who agreed since she would be going alone.
Her mission was to contact Bob so he could help her acquire a batch of the potion, so that when the basilisk incidents occurred, he would be able to treat the victims quickly.
Not acting against the basilisk didn't mean not being prepared. Things could easily spiral out of control, and assuming fate had a tendency to follow its course—which he assumed—Hermione would likely be one of the victims.
Simply because she was herself and would want to uncover the culprit.
He couldn't be with her all the time, so it was better to have the antidote ready—and, of course, it could help others as well.
He didn't know whether Bloom and Bob would be able to find the potion. It wasn't something often needed, but at the very least they could obtain mature mandrake extract and avoid having to wait for Hogwarts' own plants to mature before brewing it.
Given the uncertainty and the professor's tight schedule, he would only reopen the Floo Network in his office on the first of November; until then, Bloom wouldn't return.
Daphne had also given him a vial of Astoria's blood, but Extimum hadn't examined it yet. He stored it under a stasis charm for later.
.
Today was the 31st of October. Extimum had finished his afternoon classes and was heading to the Great Hall to attend the Halloween feast.
The Great Hall was decorated with floating pumpkins and live bats that occasionally flew overhead. The usual enchanted starry sky had been replaced with something more ominous—a dark night shrouded in gloom.
Extimum took his seat at the Ravenclaw table.
The table was already filled with all kinds of sweets: lollipops, cakes, chocolates, and the occasional prank treat.
Steve: "Look at all these sweets—this is why I love Hogwarts. They never disappoint."
Mitchell: "I have to agree with you this time—look at all these lemon cream tarts."
Trudor: "All you do is eat *nom*, you should admire the decorations too *nom*." Trudor scolded them while shovelling chocolate cake into his mouth and pointing at the hall's décor.
Steve: "Hmph, at least have the decency to swallow. Besides, I am enjoying the atmosphere as well—I even heard they've prepared some performances for later."
Padma: "Yes, Professor Flitwick also said he had a surprise prepared for Halloween."
Extimum: "Oh, speaking of that, I prepared a surprise for you as well."
At Extimum's words, Mitchell, Trudor, and Steve all stopped eating.
Mitchell: "*gulp* Y-you didn't put anything in our food… right?"
At Extimum's words, Mitchell, Trudor, and Steve all stopped eating.
Mitchell: "gulp Y-you didn't put anything in our food… right?"
Extimum: "What are you on about? I would never tamper with your food."
All three sighed
Extimum: "Because I put it in your drinks."
All three: Nooo!
Extimum: "Oh, right. Here's your improved skin potion, Padma." Extimum ignored their dramatics and handed a small bottle to Padma.
Padma: "Thank you".
Trudor: "Say it! What did you put in them?" Trudor was the first to snap out of his dramatics and asked anxiously.
Extimum: "Ah, don't worry about it. You'll find out soon enough. I was feeling bored today, so I gave all my acquaintances something to help them enjoy the feast a bit more."
Padma: "Wait, me too?"
Extimum simply gave a faint smile and didn't answer. He had asked Tutu to add some of the potions he had brewed to his friends' drinks. He had made them in his spare time for fun; as for the effects… they varied and would only last an hour.
Steve: "Ah, whatever. By the way, where are Harry and the others?"
Extimum: "Oh, they said something about going to Sir Nicholas's Deathday party. They invited me as well, but I chose to attend the feast instead. I've read that ghosts prefer rotten food, so I passed."
Mitchell: "I didn't know they celebrated their deaths. Isn't that a bit ominous?"
Padma: "They do. For them, it's like a normal birthday, now that they're dead and exist as ghosts. In fact, I saw quite a few ghosts arriving at the castle and heading somewhere else for the celebration you mentioned."
** tin tin **
Dumbledore: "Your attention, please. Thank you. Today we celebrate the Halloween feast, and for that reason, some of the professors and I have prepared a little performance to liven up the occasion."
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of skeletons and suits of medieval armour marched into the Great Hall through the doors.
They performed several acts: the skeletons played music and danced, animated by one of Dumbledore's spells; the suits of armour reenacted a short medieval battle arranged by McGonagall; and finally, Professor Flitwick launched magical fireworks that took the shapes of vivid magical creatures, filling the hall with excitement.
At some point during the feast, Extimum's prank potions took effect, causing plenty of laughter across all houses. Only his closest friends had been targeted.
Daphne's hair turned a vivid red, bubbles began forming on Pansy's head, Draco grew fangs and his eyes glowed red, and Steve's hair transformed into leaves. There were different effects, all completely harmless.
Only his Ravenclaw friends knew it had been him, while those from Slytherin and Hufflepuff could only cast suspicious glances and try to figure out who might have slipped something into their drinks.
Tricking Daphne into drinking it had been difficult, as she carefully checked everything she consumed. In her case, he had to briefly conceal himself and, using one of his tails, slip the potion into her drink seconds before she took a sip.
The professors observed everything from their table with mixed reactions; however, they said nothing, as it had all been harmless pranks and they didn't know who was responsible, although they could have found out by asking in the kitchens.
After the main excitement of the feast died down, Extimum left a bit early to head to the bathroom. As he walked through the corridors, lost in thought, he heard a splash and couldn't help but stop and look down.
'What kind of twisted luck is this?'
Extimum had stepped into a puddle—or more precisely, the entire floor was flooded.
Although he had seen it once the previous year, seeing it now didn't carry the same meaning. His thoughts were confirmed when he heard Ron call out to him, and as he lifted his gaze from the floor, he looked toward the wall not far ahead.
Ron: "Ah, Extimum, you're here too." Ron stood further down the corridor and called out when he noticed him approaching.
Hermione: "Look there!" Hermione pointed at the same wall Extimum was staring at.
"THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE."
The words were written across one of the corridor walls, illuminated by torchlight.
Ron: "What's that hanging underneath?"
Harry: "It's Filch's cat—Mrs Norris."
Extimum considered leaving at that very moment, but he could already hear the footsteps of other students, and the corridor formed an L-shape; there was nowhere to hide. Well, Extimum did have a way, but given that fate seemed intent on placing him here at this exact moment, he couldn't simply disappear and leave his friends to deal with it.
As for hiding them, he believed that today's events would show Harry what kind of society made up the wizarding world. Besides, this incident wouldn't affect him too much; in fact, once Bloom returned tomorrow, he could cure Mrs Norris.
Ron: "Let's get out of here." Ron said as he realised the situation wasn't good.
But it was already too late. From both ends of the corridor came the sound of hundreds of footsteps climbing the stairs, along with the lively chatter of people who had eaten well.
Only moments later, students flooded into the corridor from both sides, bringing all previous excitement and conversation to a halt.
They looked at the words written in blood, then at the cat, and finally at the four standing there.
Students further back grew curious and crowded in, forming a loose circle to see what was happening, yet all seemed reluctant to cross the invisible boundary around the scene.
Draco, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. He pushed his way proudly through the group of Slytherin students, then looked around before fixing his gaze on the message written on the wall.
Draco: "Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, you impure lot!"
He cast a glance toward Ron and Harry as he spoke, deliberately avoiding the word "Mudblood". Even so, it was clear he was venting his contempt toward Granger.
And of course, he completely ignored Extimum in his speech.
The tense stillness of the moment was broken once again by Filch's shouting.
Filch: "Out of my way! Move aside! What's going on here—?" Filch forced his way through the crowd, pushing and yelling.
"Mrs Norris!... You—You killed my cat! I'll kill you! I will…" Filch shouted after taking in the scene and immediately blamed Harry, who was standing closest to his cat.
He moved forward slowly, almost manically, his gaze constantly shifting between his precious cat and companion—who was brutally pinned to the torch bracket by her tail—and Harry Potter.
Fortunately, before he could do anything, Dumbledore's voice reached them, calm and soothing.
Dumbledore: "Argus, please."
Following Dumbledore, several professors arrived alongside him, observing the scene.
Dumbledore: "Everyone, please return to your dormitories!"
Dumbledore: "Except you."
Dumbledore pointed at the four of them, and although Extimum stood the farthest from the scene, he was still included.
The prefects of each house began directing their students back to their common rooms by another route.
Steve and the others cast Extimum a look of concern and confusion at the situation before being ushered away.
Before long, only the four of them remained, along with the professors and Filch.
Hermione sighed, realising she had once again found herself in trouble, while Harry and Ron grew nervous under the professors' watchful gazes.
Extimum, in contrast, maintained a stoic expression as he sighed inwardly.
'It would be nice if Bloom were here.'
Her presence would have helped him endure the irritation and underlying frustration.
The prefects of each house led their students back to their common rooms by another route. Meanwhile, Extimum's friends cast him looks of concern or confusion at what had happened.
Hermione sighed, realising she had once again ended up in trouble, while Harry and Ron grew tense.
Extimum remained calm, though in situations like this, Bloom's presence would have helped ease his inner irritation and dissatisfaction.
Dumbledore: "She is not dead, Argus. Someone has petrified her." Dumbledore had already cast several silent spells to examine the cat and had reached the conclusion that she was not dead.
His words were like a ray of light to Filch, who was on the verge of tears. As Dumbledore spoke, Lockhart stepped forward to inspect the cat, taking the opportunity to boast once again.
Lockhart: "Ah, of course, and I know the exact remedy for this curse." Lockhart said, following his usual flair. But when he realised he had actually drawn everyone's attention, he stepped back slightly and fell silent, ignoring the looks directed at him.
Dumbledore: "But how she was petrified, I do not know."
Filch: "It was him—he must have done it! He knows… he knows I'm a Squib!"
Harry: "That's not true, I didn't do it."
Dumbledore: "I do not believe it was them. No second-year student could have done this. This is very advanced Dark Magic." Although he spoke with firmness and certainty, Dumbledore cast a brief glance at Extimum, who stood further away.
Extimum: 'Bloody old man, don't look at me like that. You'll create suspicion where there is none.'
In fact, Dumbledore's not-so-subtle glance caused more than one professor to raise an eyebrow slightly, as if they vaguely understood the implication.
Snape: "If I may speak, Headmaster, they could simply have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, we have here a series of suspicious circumstances, and I do not recall seeing Mr Potter at the feast."
Snape also considered mentioning that Extimum had left the feast early and might have done it, but it was too little time and he currently had no reason to point at him; it was better to focus on Harry.
Harry: "We were at Sir Nicholas's Deathday party. There are plenty of ghosts who can testify, and we didn't go to the Great Hall because I wasn't hungry. Hermione and Ron came with me, so they were with me. As for Extimum, he only arrived shortly after."
From a more detailed perspective, Extimum remained a suspect mainly because he had been near the scene; there was little suspicion directed at him due to the short time since he had left the Great Hall.
Moreover, perhaps only Dumbledore suspected his true capabilities, which could only mean he had left him here either to keep all suspects together… or because he had other intentions.
Dumbledore: "He is innocent until proven otherwise, Severus."
Filch: "My cat has been petrified! I demand that those responsible be punished!"
Dumbledore: "We will be able to cure her, Argus. I understand that Professor Sprout has recently acquired mandrakes. Once they have matured, we will brew a potion to restore Mrs Norris. In the meantime, I advise everyone to exercise caution."
After that, everyone went their separate ways. Extimum walked with Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they headed back to their common room.
They didn't speak much along the way; the mood was somewhat sombre, although at least they hadn't been blamed for what had happened.
.
A few days passed after that event.
Bloom had returned. After searching with Bob for a few days, they had found a magical plant shop that dealt in mandrakes.
It wasn't difficult to ask the shop's Potions Master to prepare a batch of the "Mandrake Restorative Potion" after agreeing on a price.
On the other hand, many rumours and discussions began to spread among students of all years about the Chamber of Secrets and Slytherin's Heir.
However, one variable Extimum hadn't considered was that Harry wasn't the only suspect; in fact, some had begun to suspect him as well. After all, he associated with Slytherin students, had been present at the scene, and certain peculiar traits of his were starting to stand out once people began looking for flaws.
However, Extimum wasn't the type to simply sit back and watch himself be slandered; he directly approached each and every person who held such ideas and convinced them to abandon those ridiculous notions.
His influence and current image in the school were fairly decent, especially among first-years and the female students in the upper years, so it only took a few conversations to persuade them. And perhaps a subtle touch of magic here and there helped improve the situation slightly.
Even so, there were still a few who seemed openly antagonistic toward him.
--FlashBack—
Student 1: "I can't believe it… I only casually mentioned the Chamber in a letter, and now my parents won't stop asking if I'm alright or if I want to come back home."
Student 2: "And what are you complaining about? You should listen to them. Don't you know what the Chamber is? There's a monster in there."
Student 3: "Yeah, but that's just a legend… what does it have to do with us?"
Student 2: "Everything. Especially with you, Henry. You're Muggle-born. The Heir of Slytherin is supposed to release that monster to purge those of impure blood."
There was a brief silence.
Student 3 (Henry): "W-what…? You've got to be joking… why would they want to kill us?"
Student 1: "Well… because that's exactly what the Heir wants."
Henry: "A-and who is it?" A hint of nervousness crept into his voice.
Student 2 hesitated for a moment, then spoke with conviction.
Student 2: "Extimum Enoch."
Henry: "What? I don't think so… I've seen him, he's quite approachable and… he's never treated me badly."
Student 2: "Are you sure? Think about it. He hangs around with Slytherins, he has that cold, arrogant air, like he looks down on us… and his eyes… they look like a snake's. Coincidence?"
Henry: "I-I think you're exaggerating, Carlos."
Student 2 (Carlos): "Exaggerating? I don't think so."
Student 1: "Hmm… well, he was there when the message appeared. What if he left early to do it?"
Carlos: "I'm telling you, it has to be him. And you, Henry—do you really think he's a good person? Haven't you noticed how his smile never reaches his eyes…? I'm sure he's planning something."
Henry: "Well… now that you mention it… I read about his family. They've always been mysterious… what if all of that is just a cover for the dark things they do?"
Carlos smiled, ready to continue… but stopped.
Marcus was no longer listening.
He had gone completely still, staring ahead.
Carlos: "What's wrong, Mar—?"
He didn't finish the sentence.
A cold, emotionless voice spoke beside them.
"Go on."
A faint unease ran through them as they turned almost immediately.
There, just a few steps away, stood Extimum.
None of them had noticed when he had approached.
His expression was calm, but his eyes watched them with a coldness that sent a chill down their spines.
Extimum: "What's wrong? Nothing more to say? Tch… I never thought my family could be seen as abominable and wicked simply for keeping a low profile."
"Those are rather strong words. I hope they're not just empty ones spoken lightly…"
Marcus: "T-that's not it… Henry just spoke without thinking. He's Muggle-born, so there are many things he doesn't know." He tried to explain nervously.
Extimum: "Yet you implied that I killed Filch's cat. So I suppose that if your friend is merely ignorant… then you are quite aware of what you're saying."
Marcus fell silent.
Carlos frowned, clenching his teeth.
Extimum: "Ah, of course. And you as well. If it weren't for the fact that I don't even remember your name, I would think there was some irreconcilable grudge between us, given all the filth you insist on throwing at my name." He looked at him closely, but clearly had no impression of him.
It wasn't just a remark. It was a direct affront to a noble family.
Carlos: "So what if we said it? We're not afraid of you."
Extimum: "Aren't you?"
He took a step toward him.
Carlos didn't back down, stepping forward as well.
"I don't regret anything I've said. So get lost, or else…"
Extimum: "Or else what? You'll fight me? A crude punch, or do you know how to use that wand for something other than a Lumos?"
His boldness sparked a flicker of interest, and he took another step forward, stopping right in front of him.
Marcus: "Carlos, don't—"
Marcus knew it. Crossing the Enoch family was not something one did without consequences.
Carlos: "Shut up, Marcus."
He didn't take his eyes off Extimum.
"I can do more than Lumos. But against you, my fists would be enough."
They stared each other down, as if ready to lunge at any second.
"Oh…" Extimum blinked first, the light in his eyes dimming.
The answer diminished his interest; he wasn't particularly inclined to trade blows with a child. Besides, would he even be able to withstand a single hit from him?
"I suppose it might be interesting if you could manage it, but… I don't have that much time, so…"
** muffled sound **
"How many seconds was it? I suppose until you lose consciousness will suffice…"
Only Extimum's voice seemed audible in the previously bustling corridor.
Carlos watched in horror as students walked past them, completely ignoring them, while they were being strangled by a black, intangible tentacle. He tried to pull it away, but his hand passed straight through it, and his wand had vanished from his pocket.
Marcus wasn't faring much better, and Henry looked as though he had wet himself.
** clap **
** gasp gasp **
"I suppose that should be enough. Remember, if I were Slytherin's Heir, I would have no reason to stop and let you live, much less send a monster after you; that would be even more ridiculous. Always a pleasure, gentlemen. Until next time."
Without waiting for a reply, Extimum turned and walked away.
As soon as they saw him take a few steps, he suddenly vanished from sight, as if he had melted into the crowd.
Shortly after, the noise of the corridor returned to their ears.
It left them wondering whether what had just happened had truly occurred; however, the unpleasant smell from Henry's wet trousers and the lingering discomfort around their necks reminded them that it had all been real.
???: "Hey, what are you doing lying there? Are you alright?"
--End FlashBack—
Extimum had been rather lenient with them and had only frightened them a little. He had used the spell 'tristis tie' to tighten around their necks; combined with aura manipulation and an illusion field, it made the entire scene seem far more terrifying than it actually was.
Even the fact that they couldn't find their wands had been nothing more than an illusion. It wasn't that he particularly cared about their words, but Carlos clearly held a strong dislike toward him, so softer methods wouldn't have worked as well.
Moreover, he couldn't allow his family name to be stained, even if his parents weren't the best and he hadn't felt particularly attached to his clan during his early years. But after hearing the story in the grimoire and learning about the Chinese branch, that dissatisfaction had quickly faded, and now he felt quite proud to belong to his family.
Extimum: 'That old man… this must have been what he wanted.'
At first, he hadn't understood what Dumbledore was trying to achieve by subtly casting suspicion on him, but hearing those rumours made it clear; perhaps he wanted to ease the pressure on Harry and draw attention away from him.
Bloom: "Hmph, how dare that old man scheme against us." Bloom also looked clearly annoyed, even if she hadn't been directly affected.
It was currently night, close to 10:00 p.m.
Under the night sky, a large sword hovered in the air, partially concealed by the clouds. Sitting atop it, Extimum and Bloom looked out over the landscape from above.
After flying for a while, he stopped simply to enjoy the calm of the night.
Extimum: "Heh, it won't be that easy. Even if he has all that wisdom, there are things I know that he doesn't. And unlike Harry, I won't just stand by while they try to damage my image."
"It's getting late. Let's head back."
Pushing himself up from his seated position, he jumped and landed standing on his sword, then guided it to dive rapidly toward the ground.
When only a few metres remained, he leapt off while grabbing the sword with one of his tails and fell freely.
Within a few breaths, the ground drew closer and closer until, suddenly, his descent slowed, as if all kinetic force had been nullified, ending in a soft, light landing.
Bloom: "You're improving a lot with your wandless magic." Bloom had held onto Extimum's shirt as she fell with him.
Extimum: "Yes, but… although it's been good progress, it's ultimately unnatural. It's been fast, but it's only the apparent result of recent episodes of accidental magic. The worst part is that I don't even realise when or how it happens."
"First on the train, then with the mandrakes—and although it hasn't happened again, it's not something that should occur. The only good thing about it is that it makes wandless magic easier for me, but I don't like it; it doesn't feel like me."
Bloom: "I don't know why that's happening to you either." Bloom looked concerned; it was never a good sign when a wizard couldn't control their own magic.
Magic is part of a wizard, so being unable to control it when one possesses such ability is almost as bad as being unable to control oneself.
Extimum: "But let's not worry about that for now. My control over magic has improved, so as long as that spontaneous magic doesn't happen again, everything will be fine."
Having finished his night flight, Extimum covered himself and Bloom with a layer of illusion that concealed them and headed toward the castle, making his way to Ravenclaw Tower.
...
After passing through a secret Ravenclaw passage to reach the seventh floor more quickly, he made his way toward the tower entrance. However, as he crossed a four-way corridor, he sensed someone in a side passage.
Since he was invisible, he merely glanced over out of curiosity, but was surprised to see a girl in pyjamas walking with her eyes closed.
Bloom also followed his gaze when she noticed his attention linger there.
Bloom: 'Is she… asleep?'
Extimum: 'It seems so.'
The girl walked slowly. She wore a full-body pyjama resembling some kind of creature that Extimum couldn't quite identify, though it was somewhat cute in its own way. Curiously, she wasn't barefoot; she was wearing her shoes.
She had long blonde hair that reached her waist, messy from sleep.
At first glance, he didn't recognise her, though there was something vaguely familiar about her. Even so, it was difficult to draw conclusions; although the darkness wasn't an obstacle, her hair covered much of her face, obstructing his view.
'Probably a first-year.'
He stepped closer to get a better look at her. After catching up, he circled around her thoughtfully while matching her slow, sleepwalking pace.
Bloom: 'Do you know her?'
Extimum: 'Not personally, but in a way… I think I do.'
Bloom: 'Mm, I think we should take her with us. Filch has been too tense lately after what happened to his cat; it wouldn't be good if he found her, even if she's asleep.'
And they had already had a few unpleasant encounters with him in the days since Bloom had returned. He was always looking for an opportunity to stop and punish someone, even for something as simple as smiling or showing happiness in front of him. That was why they hadn't given him the potion yet; he was far too troublesome.
Extimum: 'Alright, let's take her.' Extimum extended two of his tails and gently lifted her so as not to wake her, then carried her behind him as he headed back toward Ravenclaw Tower.
After climbing the spiral staircase and answering the eagle statue's riddle, he entered the common room.
Extimum: 'Now that I think about it, I don't know which dormitory is hers. Help me find one where someone's missing from their bed.'
After entering the girls' dormitory area, Extimum realised he had no idea which room belonged to the girl, so he split up with Bloom to search quickly through the rooms.
However, following what he believed to be his intuition, they didn't need to check more than two rooms before finding the right one.
He laid the girl back on her bed, covered her, and then left the room, closing the door behind him.
Bloom: 'Do you think she opened the door while asleep?'
Extimum: 'Maybe.'
Extimum had no trouble accessing the girls' area; he had discovered it by chance during his first year at Hogwarts.
Padma had asked him to help her retrieve something she had forgotten in her room, and since Extimum also needed to fetch something of his own, he helped her along the way.
Extimum hadn't paid much attention when they mentioned that boys couldn't enter the girls' area, and Padma hadn't known either, so they took no precautions regarding it. However, to the surprise of his friends, who had expected him to make a fool of himself, he had been able to go in and out without any issue.
Steve had tried it himself to check whether something was wrong, but the stairs had transformed into a smooth slide and he hadn't been able to climb them.
It had been an interesting and somewhat unsettling discovery, but Extimum had no doubts about his own gender, so he assumed it must be something else.
After leaving the girls' area, he headed to his private room, passing through the invisible veil that protected its entrance and stepping into a chamber that lit up immediately with blue-flamed torches, signalling his arrival.
He removed his uniform and changed into more comfortable clothes, releasing his tails from the illusion and allowing his ears—something he showed to no one but Bloom—to emerge; then he settled onto his bed.
Bloom didn't take long to lie down on his bare chest, falling asleep sheltered by Extimum's tails.
.
The next morning, Extimum waited at the entrance to the Gryffindor common room to go to breakfast with them. It had been a long time since he had come here to wait; ever since his relationship with Hermione had improved, they usually met directly in the Great Hall.
Before long, Hermione came out, with Ron and Harry following behind her, still half-asleep.
Extimum: "Good morning."
Hermione: "Good morning!" Hermione replied enthusiastically as she started her day.
Ron: "Uaaah… morning, Extimum." Ron yawned as he greeted him.
Harry: "Yeah… morning."
Extimum: "You look terrible. Didn't you sleep well?"
Hermione: "Well, it turns out that some people here hadn't finished their History essays and had to stay up late to complete them for class later."
Extimum: "Impressive, Ron. You've outdone yourself."
Ron: "Ha, ha… let's just go to the Great Hall, I'm starving."
Bloom: 'Uaaah… me too.'
After the brief exchange, they headed toward the Great Hall.
...
Extimum: "So, do you think Draco could be Slytherin's Heir?"
Hermione: "I told them the same—I think it's very unlikely that it's him; it's Malfoy we're talking about. But it's not entirely impossible either. He must know something, at least, judging by how he's been acting." Hermione summarised Harry and Ron's opinions while giving her own.
Extimum: "I don't think he knows more than what you could learn by asking a professor willing to talk."
Hermione: "We already tried that, but aside from telling us a bit about the legend of the Chamber, they didn't really say anything else."
Ron: "Besides, don't take this the wrong way, but you're friends with Draco; it's normal that you'd want to defend him."
Extimum: "Very well, I won't say anything else about it. Good luck with your investigation."
Extimum stood up from his seat and walked over to the Ravenclaw table; there was still some time left before classes.
He sat down between Steve and Padma.
Steve: "Oh? Finished talking with them? Tell me, is Harry really the Heir like some of the rumours say?" His question made the others turn their attention toward Extimum.
Extimum: "Don't be ridiculous. I was there too, and they couldn't have done it. On another note, I heard you're playing tomorrow, Mitchell."
Mitchell: "Heh, of course. You'll see—I'll surpass Harry as the best Seeker and bring glory to our house."
Padma: "That depends on whether you can beat Hufflepuff in tomorrow's practice match."
Mitchell: "How cruel. I liked you better when you were more timid." Mitchell said jokingly, pretending to be wounded by Padma's words.
As they chatted about casual matters, Extimum directed his gaze toward the first-year students, searching for the girl he had seen the night before.
Steve: "Interested in someone? Heh, tell me who it is—maybe I know who you're looking for." Steve rubbed his hands together, wearing his usual scheming grin.
Extimum didn't answer immediately. As he observed the features of each first-year, he searched for someone who matched the image he remembered. He hadn't paid much attention the previous night, as it hadn't been particularly important and he had also been tired.
At last, his gaze settled on someone.
Extimum: 'So, it is her…'
Steve followed his line of sight and focused on a girl who seemed somewhat apart from the other first-years.
Steve: "Is it her?"
Extimum: "Yes."
Steve: "Let me think… I've been keeping up with the upper-years' gossip lately, but I think I know something about her."
Now that he observed her in the daylight and better composed, her features were clearer. She had long blonde hair, still slightly messy but more orderly now; grey-blue eyes, somewhat prominent; fair skin, and delicate features that hinted at a budding beauty.
She seemed to carry a somewhat dreamy expression, likely because she sat slightly apart from the other first-years and had no one to talk to.
Steve: "Ah, now I remember. Her name is Luna Lovegood. I don't really know much about her—only that I heard some first-years say she says strange things. I suppose that's why she's alone. Why are you interested in her?"
Extimum: "Oh… nothing in particular. Though she's very likely the person from that rumour you mentioned some time ago, about someone seen wandering the corridors at night. I ran into her sleepwalking yesterday."
Trudor: "Wow, so it was real? But that's dangerous. Can you imagine walking in your sleep and falling from the seventh floor?"
Extimum simply watched her for a moment. He had some impressions of her from his memories, but hadn't paid her much attention; he had too many other things to think about.
So although he remembered her name being called during the Sorting, he hadn't paid much mind to it. Nor had he had any reason to approach her.
However, the encounter the previous night had sparked a bit of his interest, and now, as he observed her, he found a certain familiarity in her solitude.
Rising from his seat, Extimum walked toward the section of the table where the first-years sat, stopping at the corner where Luna was. He then sat down directly across from her.
His friends raised their eyebrows slightly as they saw him approach her, but Extimum had always been somewhat eccentric in his actions. After all, there weren't many who both wanted—and managed—to befriend students from all four houses.
Extimum: "Hello." His sudden greeting pulled the girl in front of him out of her thoughts.
Luna blinked and looked around, noticing the gazes of the other first-years fixed on her, and especially on someone sitting across from her. When she turned her head, she met Extimum's striking purple eyes.
Most of the first-years had focused their attention on Extimum's approach.
Extimum was fairly popular. Although he didn't speak much with others outside his circle, he was approachable. Moreover, he had friends in all four houses and had contributed quite a bit the previous year toward earning points for Ravenclaw, which had earned him goodwill among the older students.
On the other hand, his appearance made him difficult to ignore, especially for first-years who had never seen someone quite like him, so all eyes were on him… and on the girl sitting across from him.
Luna: "Hello. You have very curious eyes."
Extimum: "Thank you. I'm Extimum Enoch. And you are?"
Luna: "I'm Luna Lovegood." Luna smiled slightly as she observed Extimum's rather peculiar appearance.
Extimum: "Would you like to come and sit with us?"
Without beating around the bush, he said exactly what he wanted while gesturing toward his friends, who were leaning forward further down the table to see what he was doing.
Luna blinked in slight surprise at his words.
She had expected him to come over to ask her something or to bother her; she had already experienced a few similar situations with other students when they saw her sitting apart from the rest of her house. However, she had no reason to refuse, and she didn't think about it too much, quickly nodding.
Luna: "Of course, I'd love to."
Upon hearing her answer, Extimum stood up and returned to his seat beside his friends.
Luna followed him along the other side of the table and saw Trudor and Mitchell make space for her so she could sit across from Extimum.
Luna: "Hello."
Steve: "Hello, fair lady. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Steve Genius."
Although Steve didn't know why Extimum had invited her, he didn't really care, so he simply introduced himself in an elegant manner to make a good impression on whom he believed would be a new member of the group.
Mitchell: "Bah, drop the act, Steve. Luna, you shouldn't believe his elegance. I'm Mitchell Knife, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Mitchell's words made Luna realise that they already knew her name, since she hadn't introduced herself yet.
Trudor: "I think you're overwhelming her with all this enthusiasm, don't you? You haven't even let her introduce herself. I'm Trudor Naipe, and you are?"
Luna: "Hehe, you're actually quite fun. I'm Luna Lovegood." Luna let out a small laugh, finding Steve and Mitchell's behaviour amusing.
Padma: "And I'm Padma Patil."
...
The others didn't really question Extimum's decision to bring her to the table; on the contrary, they welcomed her naturally and tried to make her feel part of the group.
Extimum had only brought her because he saw a bit of himself reflected in her. Besides, he found her somewhat interesting; although she was still young and didn't have particularly strange ideas yet, she did make peculiar comments or observations that others didn't usually notice.
The others didn't take long to understand why the first-years called her strange, as they encountered more than one slightly awkward situation. Even so, they didn't reject her for it. Although her oddness was different from Extimum's, in comparison, it didn't seem as unusual.
Luna was quite fascinated with Bloom, and they seemed to get along well, even though Bloom didn't communicate with words.
.
A few more days passed. Extimum spent half his time helping in the infirmary and the other half finishing some of his products. Christmas was approaching, and he would be able to return with Snaglok to open the new branch of his business and try to sell his creations.
Mitchell turned out to be a decent enough Seeker to win the practice match against Hufflepuff, and Luna now always sat with them. Although she tended to be quieter—like Extimum—she would speak or share her thoughts from time to time; she seemed much happier now that she no longer sat alone during meals.
Extimum had run into her sleepwalking again when he went out for another night flight with Bloom, and he wondered if there was something that could help her with that problem. He assumed she was aware of her condition, because he didn't think anyone slept with their shoes on by choice.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been meeting in the girls' bathroom where Myrtle lived to plan their way into the Slytherin common room.
Extimum only accompanied them once to listen to their plans, but since they were attempting something whose answer he already knew, he didn't get involved. He knew they wouldn't believe him. Besides, Draco had told him directly when they spoke about the matter.
Lockhart's classes had turned into what felt like a stage play. In a way, it was entertaining, but academically, it was of little use.
It was for situations like this that he had studied so diligently at home during his early years, because watching Harry pretend to be a werewolf and Lockhart act like a brave hero defeating him with a simple spell was not very instructive. Well, the spells he mentioned were real, but their effects were not as exaggerated as he claimed.
On the other hand, today would be the first official Quidditch match of the inter-house tournament, where Slytherin and Gryffindor would play.
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