F&L: Chapter 58

When we arrived at Hogwarts after a largely uneventful trip on the Hogwarts Express, mostly, we played a few hands of Tarocco Siciliano, Exploding Snap, and so on, while taking occasional breaks to talk, eat snacks, and, in the case of Tracey and myself, play guitar. I'd been practicing over the summer, but I wasn't as good as Tracey, who still had a head start on me even after I had begun to use memory-enhancement potions to better memorize and learn the notes, chords, and songs. As we chatted, however, I learned that I wasn't the only one of us to do self-study, nor was Terry the only one to get tutoring in his time at Junior Duelist's Camp in the Cotswolds.

It turned out that Neville had been working on Potions over the summer, as his Gran had insisted on getting him a tutor so that Snape would not keep picking on his work. This had dovetailed in with Padma and Parvati, who had been studying Rasayana Alchemy from their Uncle in the hopes that it could help them deal with some of the difficulties that they were having with regular potions. Of course, those difficulties were different for both twins, as Padma had difficulty with focusing enough to look past the rote recipes to be able to offer substitutions of ingredients that would still work for the potion. Meanwhile, Parvati was having issues with cosmetic potions and having to constantly apply them every day, as she was a heavy sleeper who often missed her alarm. I could relate to that, as I had been that way in my Old Life. Apparently, the three of them had begun studying together, and all three had improved with both potions and Rasayana Alchemy as a result.

Meanwhile, Millie had been learning how to duel from her Grandad, the former dueling champion, picking up combat spells like the Impediment Jinx and Slowing Spell. Likewise, Susan had been learning various Bones Family Spells and Practices that were useful in combat situations, like the Circulus Oculum Charm, which allowed the person the charm was cast on a three-hundred-sixty-degree field of vision, literally giving them eyes in the back of their head. Both girls seemed to be eager to try their spells out in Dueling Club, and I got the feeling that they were going to form a rivalry there.

Of course, most of my other friends weren't quite so determined with their schoolwork. Hermione had, of course, read the Standard Book of Spells Grade Two front to back twice over by now, having purchased a copy by owl order partway through June, and thus, only needed to really have joined us in Diagon Alley to pick up Lockhart's various stolen and embellished memoirs. However, with her wand subject to the Trace, and thus being monitored by underage magic, she couldn't very well practice the spells, now could she?

It was Ironic, but the trip she had taken with her family in June to Spain had been just about the only time she could have done any practice, as the Government of the Rey de los Magos of Magical Spain didn't track such things. It was one of the loopholes often used by Halfbloods who lived with Muggle Parents and Muggleborns with any sort of money. As soon as they figured it out, which usually tended to be the summer between fourth and fifth year for most of them, they had their parents choose vacations in Spain so that they could practice in their hotel rooms. Of course, Hermione, being Hermione, had figured it out after her first year. Unfortunately for Hermione, it seemed like her Mum was big on family time during vacations, and so she hadn't been able to do much in the way of practice. She had just about gotten the Skurge and Verdmilious Dua spells down, though she still needed a bit more practice to really get them to stick.

Everyone else, Daphne, Tracey, and Hannah, had all spent the Summer largely just taking it easy, though in Daphne's Case, I could at least say it was warranted. Having been cured of a family Blood Malediction that your family had suffered for centuries, entitled you to a bit of slacking off, in my opinion. Unfortunately, the others didn't have the same excuses. I was also shocked to find that only Daphne, Susan, Padma, and Millie had kept up their Occlumency Practice. Tracey, Parvati, Hannah, Terry, Neville, and Hermione had all slacked off on that. I knew exactly what I would be focusing on with them during Cross-House Study Group sessions from the start of the year. After all, with Lockhart around, I couldn't have my friends deficient in Occlumency. That would be an unacceptable risk for us to take.

On the other hand, Luna was an interesting case. She was a year younger than us, but a Pureblood. However, the magic she already knew seemed to be limited to Household Charms and the odd bit of Oneiromancy. Plus, she obviously knew how to use her Sight, from how she had acted in our first meeting. I wasn't sure how to handle her, though it would become clear over the course of the ride on the Hogwarts Express that Luna clearly wouldn't take to Occlumency easily. Her mind was naturally too disordered for that. However, I also found that disorder granted her something of a passive defense against mental intrusion, as anyone trying leglimancy on her would be led in circles by her odd thought patterns. It, in effect, was as good as a basic Occlumency shield without actually being Occlumency.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the train ride on the Hogwarts Express was no exception. As we exited, however, we were greeted with Hagrid's loud, bluff voice and demeanor as he directed everyone where to go.

"Firs' Years over by th' boats! Everyone else, ye got ter wait fer th' Carriages!" Called out Hagrid in his West Country Accent.

We bid farewell to Luna, who nodded, tossed a wave back at us, and wandered off toward a boat that had Ginny Weasley and a Curly-Haired, Mocha-Skinned, Brunette Girl who seemed to be related to Gwenog Jones of the Holyhead Harpies, judging by the possible familial Resemblance on evidence between the famed Holyhead Harpies Team Captain and the Curly-Haired Girl on the Boat with Luna and Ginny.

Interestingly, there were two Wizarding Jones Families from the same area of Wales, one descended from a group of Haitian Houngans, the Du Jean Family, while the other was a family of native Welsh Wizards going back to the twelfth century. Gwenog, and possibly the curly-haired Witch that Luna and Ginny were riding to the Castle with, were from the Former Family, while Susan and Hannah's Dorm-Mate Megan Jones, and her cousin Hestia, were from the latter. Of course, I was drawn out of my thoughts by my friends striking up a conversation about the change in travel arrangements to the castle.

"Carriages?" Questioned Parvati.

"Yes, Hogwarts has Self-Pulling Carriages for all years above first year. Father told me about them." Nodded Daphne.

"Not quite, Hogwarts: A History said the Carriages are pulled by something called Thestrals." Informed Hermione.

"Thestrals?" Queried Padma.

"Death Horses." I nodded.

"Why are they called that, Mate?" Asked Terry.

"Because you can only see them if you've already witnessed death." I answered.

"Hadaway and Shite! That sounds made up!" Scoffed Susan.

"No, it's true." Insisted Millie.

"Oh. That sounds a bit spooky." Mused Neville.

"It does, doesn't it?" Questioned Tracey.

"I'm sure they're not Dark. After all, Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't allow that sort of thing to carry students, would he?" Queried Hannah.

"They're mostly harmless." I assured.

"Mostly?" Asked Neville.

"They're carnivores, according to Hogwarts: A History." Offered Hermione.

"Great, just what we needed. Man-Eating Death Horses." Snarked Susan.

"I'm sure it's fine." Opined Hannah.

"If they're being properly fed, they shouldn't attack. Thestrals like their meat aged a day or so." Shrugged Millie.

"How do you know so much about Thestrals, Millie?" Questioned Padma.

"Grandad owns a small plot of ranch land where he breeds various winged horses. Pegasi, Abraxas, and Thestrals." Answered Millie.

"I wonder how he manages the Thestrals if most people can't see them?" Queried Terry.

"He's an old man." I reminded.

"So what?" Asked Parvati.

"Think about it. Someone who's lived through three Major Wizarding Wars has had to have seen enough death to qualify." Explained Tracey.

"Honestly, Terry. Use your head." Sighed Daphne.

"Tracey's right. I'll bet Millie's Grandad qualifies. I do too, for that matter." I opined.

"Same, though I'd rather not talk about it." Nodded Millie.

"As do I, though I'll have to echo Millie's request." Added Daphne.

"I don't know if I count. My Mum and Dad were tortured to insanity by the Lestrange Brothers in front of me while I was a baby, but I'm not sure that the death of who someone was compares to death full stop. Not for this." Murmured Neville, softly.

"Oh, Neville." Frowned Hermione, voice full of compassion.

"It's all right, Nev. The Lestranges can't hurt you now." I offered.

"Yeah, Mate. Not from within Azkaban." Agreed Terry.

"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want, Neville." Intoned Hannah.

"Besides, you've got Mates now that have your back, aye?" Grinned Susan.

"Thanks, guys. I mean it." Thanked Neville.

"Any time, Nev." I promised.

"Yeah, most of us have lost something if you want to talk." Agreed Tracey.

"We're always willing to listen." Confirmed Padma.

"That's what friends do, yes?" Nodded Parvati.

And with that, the carriages came trundling along, already loaded up with our luggage. Thestrals were large horses with leathery skin made of fine scales like those of a snake, glowing red eyes, and batlike wings. Opening their mouths as they neighed revealed sharp teeth more like those of wolves than the flat, herbivorous teeth of a normal Horse, belying their Carnivorous Nature. As one of the carriages stopped right in front of me, the thestral, a black skinned, orange-eyed beast of a Mare, fanned her batlike wings out at me and whickered. I tried to offer her a piece of Tebo Jerky from my Mokeskin Pouch, but she simply whinnied and nipped at me rather than gently taking the jerky. I was forced to pull my hand away in time to avoid losing fingers, though I still had a gash on the back of my hand between thumb and pointer finger.

"Gah! Maledetto cavallo serpente avido!" I spat a string of invective in rapid-fire Italian.

The Thestral didn't care, happily munching on Jerky regardless of whether or not it came with a strip of my skin. I growled, realizing that this was my Drawbacks with Care of Magical Creatures coming back to bite me on the arse once again.

"Careful, Zabini. Maybe you've never ridden in a carriage before? Just how far out in the country is your family from, anyway?" Questioned Malfoy as he, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson got into a carriage in front of mine.

I ignored the jibe in favor of downing a Wiggenweld Potion that sealed up the cut on my hand. Clearly, the mystically binding terms of our prior wager were beginning to lose power if Malfoy could make snide remarks like that without any problems. I would bet that within the next two days, they'd lose power entirely, and then I would be getting a formal request for a rematch duel from Malfoy. Instead of worrying about that, now, though, I simply entered the Carriage, glaring at the Thestral the whole way to the Castle Proper.

Thankfully, there were no other incidents, and the Welcoming Feast proceeded as normal. Of the First Years that I'd had my eye on, Luna and Ginny got sorted into Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, respectively, just like I'd figured they would, but the Jones, who turned out to be Gwenog Jones' niece, Gwenllian Jones, was sorted into Slytherin with us. Of course, that just meant that I'd have to keep an eye on her, too, since even though her family had been living in Wales for over two hundred years, that wouldn't stop people like Theo Nott or Mauricius Pike, both of whom bought into more than just the standard prejudices of the Death Eater Set and extended their prejudices toward those they felt were 'too foreign'. Honestly, if not for Draco enforcing the terms of our bet among his crowd to avoid losing his magic, I probably would have gotten a bit of that from them, too. Just to be on the safe side, I had Gwenllian sit next to me for the feast.

Aside from that, though, the only other thing of note was Dumbledore's Introduction of Gilderoy Lockhart as the new Defense Professor. The Puffed-Up Popinjay spewed some blather about how honored he was to be the new defense professor, but I knew that it was all bunk. When he tried to relate it to his various plagiarized exploits, I began to tune out the words and try to figure out his intentions. I could just about pick out his emotions and broader intent using the Mind Arts. It seemed that he was keenly interested in some of the Prefects. At least one from every house was on his radar, generally speaking, the prettier female prefects. I growled under my breath as I saw his attention flit back and forth between Miss Hunt, who I had seen in my visions, at the Hufflepuff Table, Penelope Clearwater in Ravenclaw, some Redheaded Gryffindor Witch who seemed to be related to Harry and Ron's Mate Seamus, judging by the family resemblance, and Gemma Fairley over at our table.

That last one surprised me because I felt a flash of protectiveness and outrage at that which I struggled to clamp down on with Occlumency. Daphne nudged me in the ribs, and I looked over at her. She cocked a single, manicured, platinum blonde eyebrow at me before letting me know exactly why she had done that.

"You were growling in the back of your throat, Blaise. Don't scare the new girl." Sniffed Daphne. I turned to the New Girl, Gwenllian Jones, and nodded at her.

"Sorry. I just got a premonition I didn't like." I offered by way of apology.

"You're a seer?" Queried Gwenllian.

"I am." I confirmed.

"You wouldn't believe how handy it comes in when trying to avoid Peeves." Deadpanned Tracey.

"Tracey, you wound me! Is that all I am to you?" I asked with mock hurt in my voice.

"Your acting needs work." Snorted Millie.

With that, we broke out in a bout of laughter, Gwenllian joining in. It seemed like she would fit in just fine among our group of Non-Arsehole Slytherins, though I noticed that over by Draco's Group, they had managed to snag a boy with dark brown hair who seemed to be tall for a first year and clearly knew enough about Quidditch to draw Draco into a conversation about the game. So we had both grown our respective groups within the House on Day One of the new term. Well, it seemed, as always, that our battle for dominance over our year was set to begin again in a few days, and had, in some ways, already started.

Thankfully, it didn't go any further than each of us gaining a new member tonight, though there was a third First-Year, this one a Boy with short blonde hair and a slight grin named Charlie Bilmes, a nephew of Bilton Bilmes, owner of Zonko's Joke Shop. He'd already had a couple of stink pellets confiscated from him during the Sorting, as Professor McGonagall had stopped him before he'd sat down and demanded he turn out his pockets, just in case. It seemed his Uncle's Reputation preceded his arrival, and the loud chorus of boos from the Gryffindor Table on his sorting had clearly come from the Twins, disappointed that someone like Charlie wasn't sorted to their House. Thus far, Charlie hadn't been claimed by either side in the ongoing war for Slytherin House Dominance. I had a feeling that I would want him to join me, though. That way, I could hook him up with the Twins and further develop the logistics that made sneaking stuff to and from the Castle a breeze.

For now, however, the rest of the feast passed in relative peace, until right up at the end, when Headmaster Dumbledore was grabbed from the High Table by Hagrid, who had left the feast a bit earlier to check something out. The Headmaster and Hagrid made their way out of the Great Hall before vanishing with a cracking noise as Dumbledore used Fawkes to transport them both away. I had a feeling I knew exactly what that was. I figured that was Harry and Ron arriving in Mister Weasley's Flying Ford Anglia and running afoul of the Whomping Willow before crashing into the Forbidden Forest and causing a stir.

Either way, it didn't concern us as the feast ended and we were all sent to our common rooms for the evening. As Gemma Fairley and Terence Higgs gave Gwenllian and Charlie the rundown on Slytherin House, Silver Points, and the Password, which tonight was Nobilis Maximus, I headed for my room. I took my Bluemoon Grass Elixir, which would begin actually manifesting changes some time in the next few months, providing me with more things to study from the Azarinth Healer's Treatise, and pulled out Zorian's Notes. I spent the rest of the evening trying to get a grip on Xenoglossy. In theory, it should be simple, being that I already had a bardic way to do so in Pob Laith.

Of course, Xenoglossy wouldn't allow me to speak the Languages of Animals like Pob Laith would, but it would allow me to retain any Languages I learned using it, whereas I had to cast Pob Laith every time I wanted to read, speak, understand, or write a language I didn't already know. That was worth it to my mind, as it would eventually make me a true omniglot, instead of having to cheat every time with Pob Laith. The Version of Zorian's Notes had only two stages to learning Xenoglossy, the first of which required entry into the Mindscape, which was easy enough, but the next required me to implant a permanent fixture there. This would function as the Codex Linguarum, as the annotations described it, which would help me to decipher and inscribe new languages into my mind. If I hadn't already gotten to the point where I could make changes in my mindscape, this would have been impossible, but thankfully, I was indeed at that level.

As I focused my willpower, magic, and intent, I imagined a marble pillar that functioned as a lectern, upon which a leatherbound tome set with amber gemstones taking shape in my mindscape. Inside the vellum pages of the tome, constantly shifting words spelled out my knowledge of what languages I already knew, in this case, English, Latin, Italian, and French, with room for more to be inscribed using the mystical properties of the tome. It was a slow process, and by the time I was done, it was almost bedtime, but I had done it. My Codex Linguarum was complete, and I should now be capable of passively picking up languages of both Humans and Magical Beings, at least in terms of most Magical Beings. There were some that, as a Human, I just wasn't equipped to speak. Mermish, for example, required a very specific anatomy, as being an underwater language, it was as much about body language and bioluminescence as sound.

Regardless, by the time I had to go to bed after my first day back at Hogwarts, I had my Xenoglossy up and running. As I showered, dressed, and hit the hay, I was resolved to begin trying to slip in hints to everyone I cared about that they should really begin focusing on their Occlumency Practice in the morning. Thankfully, I didn't have a portentous dream that night, which was good because it meant being well-rested for the day.

That day, it turned out, would begin with the return of Magnus Gamp, a grueling training session, and the discovery of just how screwed up his trip to Magical New Orleans had really been. He would put me through my paces to ensure that I hadn't slacked off on him over the course of the summer.

What would follow afterward, however, was a formal challenge for a rematch duel by Draco Malfoy, clearly picking the most advantageous time for him that he could. . .

XXXX

AN: Apologies for any potential errors in this one. I'm still on my trip to Ireland and Scotland, and so I have limited capability to write like I normally do.

All right, so here's the first bit back at Hogwarts as Year Two starts in earnest. We meet another couple of new First Years in Gwenllian Jones and Bilton Bilmes, along with the start of Draco getting ready for no longer having the restrictions of his magically binding wager with Blaise placed on him. We also get a bit of insight into where Lockhart's initial focus is going to be, subverting some of the prefects, as well as see Blaise getting his initial bit of Xenoglossy down, plus some comedy with the Thestral via Blaise's Bad at Magical Creatures Drawback.

At any rate, the next chapter will include a return by Magnus Gamp, along with a formal challenge to a rematch duel from Draco as the Magically Binding Bet from First Year finally wears off. I'll also have some images out before then as well.

Stay tuned. . .