Chapter 145
Chapter 145
Hermione returned not long afterwards, looking entirely relieved.
Plainly, the problem troubling her had been solved. Harry was intensely curious, but Hermione merely smiled mysteriously and refused to explain.
Suer knew the reason.
It was not that the astonishingly exploitable Time-Turner failed to interest him. He was simply too “busy”. If obtaining one required ticking every subject on the list, his head would explode.
Besides, the use of a Time-Turner surely came with numerous restrictions.
The Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor was almost upon them, yet the Hufflepuff team remained thoroughly indolent. When Suer returned to the dormitory, he saw the captain standing on a chair and holding forth about something…
On closer listening, the topic proved to be visiting the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade after Saturday’s Quidditch match, drinking butterbeer and admiring mature women.
Suer would leave them to it…
Honestly, anyone wanting to admire women would do better to linger outside the Ravenclaw common room and look at the girls. Besides, Hufflepuff had the second-highest proportion of female students after Ravenclaw.
Perhaps it was simply true that what one could not see remained forever enticing.
When Suer visited the Three Broomsticks with Hagrid during the Christmas holiday, he had indeed seen Madam Rosmerta, the woman who excited Hogwarts’s older boys. Hmm… she had to be at least forty, surely? She maintained herself well enough to look in her thirties, and her mature charm was genuinely attractive.
What shallow boys. Given the chance, Suer ought to show them a few adult films from Japan and broaden their horizons!
Expressionless, Suer walked past and headed directly towards his dormitory.
“First, a wizard must clearly understand the purpose of Occlumency. It protects against magic that invades or influences emotions and memories, with Legilimency foremost among such methods. In the past, certain wizards delighted in using Legilimency to invade their victims’ minds, influencing and altering memories until those victims suffered so terribly that they wished for death.”
“Few forms of magic lack a corresponding defence. Even the Imperius Curse, one of the three Unforgivable Curses, can be resisted through Occlumency.”
“Then how should a wizard practise Occlumency?”
…
Suer closed the book in frustration. Without exception, every volume on Occlumency mentioned the same point.
The quickest method was to have a deeply trusted wizard skilled in Legilimency use it upon the student while the student struggled to resist.
The prerequisite was learning to restrain and close off one’s emotions. That was the first step in studying Occlumency.
“Hmm… Occlumency constructs a layer of false memories for the invading wizard to see…”
“Should I ask Professor Snape? Surely he wouldn’t sink low enough to inspect the important ‘adult film archives’ buried deep in my head?”
Suer closed the book. After all his reading, he had developed a rough understanding of Occlumency, an obscure but extremely useful form of magic.
Just as he considered when to approach Professor Snape for practical instruction, familiar flames appeared and a letter shot through the air, striking Suer squarely on the forehead.
The letter fell onto the bed. Suer rubbed the spot where the sharp corner of the envelope had struck.
All he had wanted was to pluck a few more tail feathers. Did Fawkes truly need to remain angry for so long?
Fawkes might be male, but he was at least a hundred years old; surely that was far too long to nurse a grudge.
Suer grumbled as he picked up the envelope.
“Huh…” The first thing he saw after opening it was a golden-red feather.
Oh. No wonder Fawkes was angry.
The golden-red feather looked to him like a rare treasure: a Guardian Phoenix Tail Feather.
“Mr Bones, please come to the area near the library on the second floor when the Quidditch match begins. Severus will be waiting for you there.
“Do not be concerned. I shall offer you an explanation at the appropriate time.
“This letter will ignite five minutes after being opened. For now, please keep its contents secret.
“– Albus Dumbledore”
Suer climbed out of bed and casually Transfigured a chair into a brazier, then tossed the letter inside. Three minutes later — opening and reading it had taken two — the letter began burning from one corner, exactly as Dumbledore had said. Fortunately, Morn was not in the dormitory; otherwise, Suer would have needed to invent an explanation.
He watched the dancing flames consume the entire envelope as black ash fell into the brazier. After a moment’s silence, Suer waved his wand again and restored the chair to its original form.
“Oh, when did you get back?” Morn pushed open the dormitory door at that moment.
“Not long ago. Why? Lost at wizard chess again?” The corner of Suer’s mouth curved upwards as he raised an eyebrow at Morn’s dejected expression. “What did you lose this time?”
“How did you know I was playing wizard chess? Fine. I lost a bag of colour-changing chocolates.” Morn gave Suer a startled look, then lowered his head. His lips worked for some time before he clenched his teeth, face filled with frustration.
“I was one move away. My knight would have pulled the queen down. Next time, I definitely won’t lose.”
Watching Morn suddenly become fired with determination, Suer secretly pursed his lips. There probably would not be a next time. This hopeless wizard-chess fanatic had already given away the entire large bag of snacks brought back after Christmas.
Even so, Suer offered his heartfelt encouragement.
“I believe in you. You’ll definitely win next time.”
…
The Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor soon began. The Gryffindor team had reportedly risen early to warm up on the pitch, while the Hufflepuff players were still eating heartily in the common room.
Hufflepuffs had never cared greatly about winning or losing. Compared with exhausting themselves in pursuit of a championship, they much preferred simply enjoying the match.
Cedric had complained to Suer more than once about the Hufflepuff Quidditch team’s lack of ambition. He had also declared repeatedly that, within his lifetime, he would become captain and lead the House to a Hogwarts Quidditch Cup.
Incidentally, Cedric had become Hufflepuff’s new Seeker the previous year.
The weather was ideal for Quidditch. The sunlight was warm without being harsh. Vivid green grass strained upwards, while a pleasant breeze passed over the Black Lake and raised fine ripples.
Everyone’s mood was as bright as the clear weather.
In the Great Hall, everyone discussed the coming Quidditch match at the tops of their voices. Cedric’s excellent performances in the past inspired confidence among the Hufflepuff students. They expected him to show his prowess, seize the Golden Snitch and bring Hufflepuff victory.
“I’m under a great deal of pressure,” Cedric said quietly with a wry smile. “You know our players have no desire to defeat everyone else. Yesterday, the captain told us to concentrate on defence, allow Gryffindor as few points as possible and hold on until I catch the Golden Snitch, or…”
Cedric glanced towards the Gryffindor table, and Suer followed his gaze.
Wood, the Gryffindor captain, was shouting with passionate intensity and looked eager for battle. Harry, Gryffindor’s Seeker, seemed distracted. His fork had almost mashed the egg on his plate into paste.
“Good luck,” Suer said.