Extimum: "Diseas—..."
He was just about to continue his examination when he came to an abrupt stop.
One of the results had come back positive...
Surprised, he checked the displayed data several times, even verifying the analysis process before finally convincing himself that the result was correct.
To be honest, Extimum had never expected anything to actually come back positive. He had only performed the examination out of caution, wanting to be absolutely certain before ruling anything out, so the outcome was rather unexpected.
'Potions: Positive.'
Staring at the unmistakable result, he remained silent for several seconds.
Had he been careless?
It would have been easier to accept if he had found almost anything else instead. A curse, for example; after all, someone truly skilled might have cast one so flawlessly that he failed to notice it. Or perhaps he could have been affected by some object he had handled out of excessive curiosity. But... a potion?
One had to remember that, in a society where potions were commonplace and most magical bloodlines were no strangers to times of war, countermeasures and precautions against such things had become part of everyday life for many magical families, particularly those with long and distinguished legacies.
Of course, these were relatively peaceful times, and as generations passed, many customs had gradually fallen into disuse. As a result, not only children but even accomplished witches and wizards were no longer especially cautious against such methods unless their profession or lifestyle demanded it.
Even so, a certain level of knowledge and a number of precautions still remained, whether explicitly or implicitly, in some families. This was the case with the enchanted amulets and signet rings worn by the heads of noble houses, influential figures, or their direct descendants.
That said, the same could not be said of Extimum.
Even if other families had relaxed their standards, the Izorim family would never tolerate such mediocrity when it came to the etiquette and traditions expected of an old magical noble house. And even setting tradition aside, Extimum himself would never allow himself to become careless with his own safety.
He always did his best to remain cautious. Even when conducting uncertain and dangerous experiments, he only proceeded when he was confident he could protect his own life and had several escape routes available.
Naturally, it was impossible to be prepared for absolutely everything, but he had never imagined that a flaw would appear in one of the areas he trusted most.
The surprise—and the blow to his pride—were far from insignificant.
Extimum: "'Heh...'"
Thinking about it, he could not help letting out a self-deprecating chuckle.
"'I suppose I've been a little arrogant, and my perspective has been far too narrow. What does it matter if I've been careful? In the end, I'm still only a child when it comes to the ways of the world. Being deceived or outmatched means nothing. After all, I discovered it, and although I still don't know what the potion actually does, dealing with it shouldn't be impossible.'"
After silently berating himself for a moment, Extimum let out a quiet sigh and composed himself.
Extimum: "Hah... Let's calm down. For now, let's find out exactly what has been affecting me so quietly."
Taking a deep breath, Extimum's mood returned to its usual calm composure.
The good news was that the potion was still present in his body, which made investigating it considerably easier.
Generally speaking, potions behaved in one of two ways once ingested. Some acted directly on the body before dissipating like any ordinary substance. Others, however, remained circulating quietly through the bloodstream, maintaining their effects for as long as they remained present or until their magical properties were exhausted.
At times, it was hardly an exaggeration to describe potions as liquid magic rather than mere mixtures of conveniently effective ingredients.
Now that he knew a potion was flowing through his veins, determining exactly which one it was would not be particularly difficult.
Identifying active potions within the body was among the things he had learned from Madam Pomfrey. Furthermore, he was no stranger to the study of potions, so unless it was something exceptionally rare or unique, he would most likely be able to identify it.
About twenty minutes later, he had his answer.
Extimum: "Well... I was hoping for something more specific. Still, at least I know what it is now, and I should be able to remove it from my body before long."
After extracting part of the substance, analysing its nature, and carrying out several tests, the identity of the mysterious potion gradually became clear as he ruled out one possibility after another until he finally reached the correct conclusion.
Even so, the result was somewhat unexpected, leaving him with a mixture of relief and disappointment.
On the one hand, he was genuinely relieved to have identified the potion and to know that removing it from his body would not be difficult. On the other, he had secretly hoped it might prove to be the source of the problems that had been troubling him, but that was not the case. Besides, he could not help feeling that this hidden threat was... rather weak.
It was not that he wished it had been something more terrifying, but a Compulsion Potion simply seemed too ordinary.
'Well... I suppose it wouldn't have been that easy. Besides, I'd rather it had been a different kind of potion. A Compulsion Potion tells me nothing about its intended purpose. For now, all I can do is remove it from my body. Given enough time, perhaps I'll eventually find a clue.'
With that, he proceeded to remove the potion that had been silently circulating through his body until now. The process for this particular potion was not especially complicated, and he succeeded in eliminating every trace of it in less than five minutes.
There were many methods of removing either a potion's effects or the potion itself from a person's body, but the appropriate method depended primarily on the type of potion and the circumstances involved.
Fortunately, a Compulsion Potion was neither especially complicated nor particularly dangerous.
At least, not for witches and wizards.
For this kind of potion, an antidote, a Blood-Cleansing Potion, or even a few simple spells or rituals could be enough to remove it, provided one possessed the necessary knowledge and control.
Naturally, Extimum had no intention of resorting to anything overly complicated.
The Blood-Cleansing Potion would be more than sufficient.
It was not a difficult potion to brew, and he already kept several vials in reserve for situations like this, although, truthfully, he had never expected to use one on himself.
At least not so soon.
The Blood-Cleansing Potion was capable of removing any foreign substance present within the body. However, it made no distinction between beneficial and harmful substances, meaning that any agent not naturally belonging to the body would be purged.
It was a fairly common potion and was almost always kept stocked in the Hospital Wing. Besides its medical applications, it also served as an excellent remedy for sobering someone up, among other uses.
Naturally, useful though it was, it also had its limitations. If the foreign substance had already become too deeply integrated into the body or if its effects took hold immediately upon ingestion, the Blood-Cleansing Potion could neither remove it nor undo its effects. As such, it was truly effective only against potions that had been consumed recently or that remained circulating through the body without reacting violently.
Extimum: "'It tastes like... nothing. Hmm, good. That's reassuring.'"
After drinking the potion, Extimum confirmed that it was indeed completely flavourless. Its effects were almost immediate, and aside from a faint warmth that vanished as quickly as it had appeared, he felt no other change within his body.
Extimum: "'Well... I don't feel any different, but that's hardly surprising. It would be much easier if I'd at least suspected something beforehand. Right now, the effect of the compulsion could quite literally be anything.'"
A Compulsion Potion, much like the spell of the same name, implanted a specific idea or thought regarding a particular subject into the mind of whoever consumed it. It could be something as simple as making the victim believe that their favourite colour was different, or as profound as partially reshaping the way they interpreted a particular concept.
The most dangerous aspect was that the implanted suggestion would be perceived as if it were entirely their own.
That said, it was far from omnipotent magic. It would be exceedingly difficult for a compulsion to force someone into accepting an idea that directly contradicted their deepest principles.
Furthermore, the implanted idea had to remain relatively simple rather than overly detailed. If the compulsion became too extreme, it could create an internal conflict that would lead the victim to question it—or even reject it subconsciously.
Its true danger lay in its ability to quietly shape a person's thoughts over time and, if left undisturbed long enough, make those thoughts feel like a completely natural part of who they were.
Thus, if someone were subjected to a compulsion that made them believe they hated a particular person before they had ever met them, then years later, upon finally encountering that individual, they might genuinely hate them from the very first moment, simply because that belief had taken root without ever meeting any resistance.
Given Extimum's current situation, he would have to consider an almost limitless number of possibilities before discovering any alteration in the way he thought about something. As things stood, it was far more likely that he would only uncover it by chance as time went on.
** Yaaawn... **
Bloom: "It's still rather early. Why are you already staring off into space?"
Hearing Bloom's voice, Extimum emerged from his thoughts and turned towards his bed—or rather, the pillow resting upon it, where Bloom lay sprawled lazily, still slowly shaking off the last remnants of sleep.
Extimum: "Good morning, Bloom. I've just finished examining my blood, and the results were... well, rather different from what I expected."
Bloom: "So, what was the result?"
Rolling from one side of the pillow to the other, Bloom asked absent-mindedly, her mind still clouded with drowsiness.
Extimum: "...One of the results came back positive, but I've already dealt with it."
Bloom: "Oh, a positive result? I suppose that was to be expec—"
"Wait! Did you say positive?"
Those words instantly chased away Bloom's sleepiness. She shot upright, sitting bolt straight on the pillow as she stared at Extimum with wide eyes.
Extimum: "Yes. I discovered a potion, but I removed it a few moments ago, so it no longer poses any threat."
He answered with his usual calm, making a point of emphasising that the problem had already been resolved so Bloom would not worry more than necessary.
Bloom: "There were traces of a potion? But... how? No, more importantly... when? I've always seen how careful you are."
Extimum: "Well, it's not as though there aren't other ways for someone to absorb a potion into their body, but either way, I haven't the slightest idea."
Bloom: "And what kind of potion was it?"
Extimum: "A Compulsion Potion."
Bloom: "Then what was the compulsion?"
Extimum: "I don't know."
Bloom: "So... you didn't actually find anything out?"
Extimum: "...You really didn't have to put it like that."
Bloom: "Hehe, sorry. That was rather insensitive of me."
Extimum could not help rolling his eyes. It was not as though he was any more satisfied than she was with such an unrewarding investigation.
Bloom: "Well, no point in moping about it, right? Speaking of which, have you finally finished all your experiments?"
Extimum: "Yes... No, actually. I still want to examine my blood with the Magi-Scope. Between all the other tests, I never had the chance to see whether there was anything unusual there as well. To be honest, I'm rather curious now. Since unexpected things keep turning up, this seems like the perfect opportunity to have a look. A second surprise probably won't shock me nearly as much."
(Look at him raising flags already.)
As he spoke, he rose from his chair and cleared a space on the desk before placing the Magi-Scope upon it. He then retrieved the container holding the remaining sample of his blood.
It was a small glass vial sealed with a cork. Despite its delicate appearance, it had been magically reinforced to prevent something as simple as a fall from breaking it.
The vial fit comfortably within Extimum's fist, and the blood inside occupied barely a tenth of its capacity.
The blood within presented a rather peculiar sight—one that could easily mislead anyone unfamiliar with magical blood, unless they observed it carefully.
Bloom: "I want to have a look too. By the way, don't you think your blood is rather strange?"
Extimum: "Didn't your blood sparkle as though a rainbow had vomited all over it?"
Bloom: "Ah... you're right. Hehe."
Extimum's remark drew an awkward response from Bloom before she quickly turned her head away.
'Blast, I must still be half asleep.'
Bloom could not help rubbing her face with both hands as she realised the foolish thing she had just said.
Although it was barely noticeable in ordinary fairies, fairy blood was surrounded by an almost invisible layer of tiny shimmering particles in a variety of colours. So, while it was still red, it was undoubtedly quite unusual compared to the blood of other creatures.
Extimum: "There, it's ready. Use the other eyepiece if you want to watch as well."
Beneath the Magi-Scope's lens, the image of Extimum's blood was greatly magnified.
An immense crimson sea spread out before them.
Unlike an ordinary sample, however, it appeared to be divided cleanly into two distinct halves.
Within one half lay two slender strands intertwined together, one golden and the other violet.
The colours contrasted sharply with one another, and the sensations they evoked were even more opposed.
Where the golden strand inspired a sense of benevolence, the violet one radiated something illusory and unsettling. Yet despite that apparent opposition, the two blended seamlessly without losing their individual essence. It was a clear representation that, despite their differences, they formed a single whole.
Within the vast crimson sea, the blood particles belonging to that golden-violet lineage were exceedingly scarce, occupying only a small portion of the half they had claimed.
Even so, every red blood cell on that side shared one or more characteristics with that tiny golden-violet nucleus, as though they were still undergoing a gradual process of evolution.
The two halves remained separated by a thin silver light that flickered constantly, dividing the landscape's two dominant forces.
The other half of the crimson sea was no less remarkable.
Although the phenomenon was subtler due to the Magi-Scope's representation, careful observation revealed a genuine battle taking place between two opposing bloodline factions.
One of them immediately stood out because its particles possessed a much deeper crimson hue, as well as behaviour that clearly distinguished them from the rest.
They exuded a wild, untamed nature that at times appeared arrogant and defiant, while at others it became cautious and elusive.
This group represented only a small fraction of that half of the crimson sea, its members scattered among the ordinary blood cells.
At the same time, they constantly attempted to convert nearby particles into others like themselves and, every so often, launched savage assaults against the silver barrier dividing the crimson sea, trying to force their way into the opposite half.
That said, the opposing side was by no means inferior. In fact, it still held the advantage.
It was made up of the ordinary blood particles that inhabited that half of the crimson sea. Although they emitted no particular aura, their vigour and resilience were no less impressive than those of the opposing group when compared individually.
After watching for some time, it became apparent that the original faction's inability to gain the upper hand, despite its overwhelming numerical advantage, stemmed mainly from two factors.
The first was the savage nature of the opposing group, which made them extremely difficult to eliminate. Coupled with that was their elusive behaviour; whenever they were on the verge of perishing, they retreated to preserve themselves.
The second was that, even when one of those particles was destroyed, another would emerge from somewhere unknown, rendering the battle futile and making an endless stalemate the best outcome the original faction could hope for.
The most curious aspect of the entire scene was that, from the eccentric golden-violet cluster on one side to the particles engaged in relentless combat on the other, they all ultimately represented the same thing.
The Celestial Fox bloodline was part of Extimum and, despite its completely different nature, it showed no sign of conflicting with the Izorim bloodline. The two coexisted like opposite sides of the same coin within a single body. They were different, yet together they formed the whole of Extimum.
The third bloodline, however, was the most troublesome.
It did not appear weaker than the Izorim bloodline, yet neither did it seem willing to coexist as part of a single whole within the same body. On the other hand, despite its behaviour and the mystery surrounding its appearance, it was not something external—it had already become part of Extimum.
That final detail was the most unsettling and revealing discovery so far, for it meant the problem had just become considerably more complicated.
Regardless of whether it had originally come from an external source, that no longer changed the fact that it had now become part of him. If he failed to deal with it properly, trying to eliminate it could very well prove counterproductive.
After observing the sample for a few more minutes, Extimum looked away and switched off the Magi-Scope.
Extimum: "Interesting..."
Bloom: "Hey, I was still watching."
Extimum: "Oh. Did you come to any conclusions, then?"
Bloom: "Well... no. But aren't you going to run more tests or something? Otherwise, why were you staring at it for so long? Besides, no matter how you look at it, there's absolutely nothing normal about what we just saw."
Bloom voiced her thoughts while subtly steering the conversation away from the subject.
The truth was that, although her knowledge allowed her to offer useful ideas from time to time, she understood very little of the data and experiments Extimum worked with.
It was not that Bloom was unintelligent.
Rather, magical research simply lay far outside her field of expertise.
That was because, setting aside her small and beautiful appearance, as her body recovered and the days passed, Bloom's magic had returned and grown at an astonishing rate—to the point where Extimum could no longer confidently claim that he would be able to defeat her.
Bloom's magical power was no longer inferior to that of any Hogwarts professor.
And that was only when it came to conventional magic.
Whenever she used fire magic, her raw destructive power could reach an entirely different level.
Extimum suspected that she had not yet fully recovered the peak of her magical power. However, because of the extraordinarily long period she had spent frozen, it would still take considerable time for her body to finish readjusting before she could reach even greater heights.
For the time being, she had reached a stage where further improvement was minimal. All she could do now was wait for her recovery to continue naturally.
Extimum: "Well, I wouldn't say it wasn't surprising, but it still doesn't compare to the previous discovery. I already suspected something like this might show up. It would be difficult for something to affect me this profoundly without leaving some trace somewhere. Still, I have to admit that seeing the phenomenon with my own eyes is something else entirely."
The sight of that development within his blood was truly worthy of being called magical, yet Extimum neither exaggerated his reaction nor allowed it to disturb his composure.
What had happened earlier, together with those subtle thoughts that had begun forcing their way into his mind, had already given him reason to believe that something was affecting him on a profound level. The condition of his blood merely confirmed that suspicion.
Perhaps the only thing that caused him any unease was discovering that whatever was affecting him had already become a part of him.
Even so, that merely made the situation somewhat more complicated. It had not yet reached the point of becoming hopeless.
The plans he had prepared to deal with this problem—and the time available to carry them out—remained exactly the same.
Extimum had enough confidence in himself to believe that he would overcome this trial, and if he proved mistaken, his resolve was firm enough to accept the consequences of that mistake.
Extimum: "Still, setting this entire ordeal aside, these experiments have greatly improved my understanding of magical blood. I might even be able to make some progress with the Greengrass blood curse, although I don't think I'll devote any time to it for now."
Bloom: "Aren't you taking this a little too lightly?"
Bloom frowned, unable to hide her concern. She did not know every detail, nor had she personally experienced the true extent of whatever was affecting Extimum, but she found it difficult to believe it was something so easily dismissed.
Besides, the contingency plans she had read through in his notes were far too extreme for someone who supposedly wasn't facing a truly serious problem.
Extimum: "Taking it too lightly? No. I'm giving it the importance it deserves, but... what other choice do I have? Perhaps there is another path, but for now I have to work with what I have, and what I have is frankly very little. Even so, this still isn't a situation that calls for despair."
"The past few weeks have taught me that rushing things won't necessarily bring results. So I'll take it slowly, one step at a time, and if the worst does happen... well, we'll deal with it when the time comes."
Extimum's voice was especially calm as he spoke those words, even by his usual standards.
"Right, it's still early. There's no need to burden ourselves with something this complicated when the day's only just begun. Wouldn't you rather get a bit more sleep?"
Bloom: "And you expect me to sleep peacefully after all that? Even if I tried not to worry, it would be difficult to stop thinking about it."
Extimum: "Then let's go out for a while. We still have a few hours before breakfast and classes begin. We could... I don't know, wander around a bit or perhaps we'll find someone else who's already awake."
Bloom: "All right, but give me a moment. At the very least, I need to wash my face."
With that, Bloom flew straight towards the bathroom.
It was fortunate they lived in a magical world, because when she returned, it was obvious she had done far more than simply wash her face.
She had changed clothes, tidied her hair, and, judging by a few details we shall refrain from mentioning, it was quite clear that she had also taken the opportunity to enjoy a quick bath and freshen herself up properly.
None of that came as a surprise to Extimum.
Bloom took great pride in her appearance most of the time and only allowed herself to relax a little when she was with him.
Extimum: "Let's go, then."
Bloom wasted no time flying over to land on Extimum's shoulder as they headed for the door.
Bloom: "So, what are we going to do?"
Extimum: "I don't know. Perhaps we'll simply walk around like we usually do, go for a flight, or... sit somewhere for a while."
Outside their room, they were greeted by a silent common room.
At that hour, the only audible sign of life was the occasional crackling of wood burning in the fireplace.
It was still early, and the room remained dimly lit. Only the area surrounding the fireplace was faintly illuminated by the flames.
Despite the silence, a lone figure sat on the sofa beside the fire.
The room remained dimly lit, yet the figure held a thick book in their hands. Their attention appeared fixed on the open pages before them. Even so, although their gaze never left the book, something about them suggested that their mind was elsewhere. The book seemed little more than an excuse to let their thoughts wander.
The book was nothing more than an excuse to let their mind wander.
Seeing Luna awake so early did not really come as a surprise. Although she was not always up at this hour, it had gradually become a fairly common sight.
Extimum considered it for a moment before walking over and sitting down beside her.
His presence did not seem to pull Luna entirely out of her thoughts, but a few subtle reactions let Extimum know that she was already aware of him.
Although he had originally intended to go for a walk, seeing her made him decide to stay for a while.
Lately, his relationship with Luna had grown remarkably close. At times, he even felt it had become closer than the one he shared with Steve and the others. He had caught himself behaving with an ease and familiarity around her that surprised even him, such as during Harry's Quidditch match, when Luna had asked him to place a bet on the outcome and he had agreed without a second thought.
He was not entirely sure how they had grown so close in such a short time.
Perhaps it was simply a matter of their personalities being compatible.
It was rather curious, considering their first meeting had been little more than chance, and Luna's integration into the group had happened with very little planning.
And now...
It almost felt as though he had adopted a younger sister.
It was a feeling similar to the one he had experienced with Mei.
At first, their relationship had been distant and rather brief. Mei was also a person of very few words, yet it was precisely within those shared silences that the two of them gradually became accustomed to one another, allowing their closeness to grow little by little.
It was not exactly an ordinary friendship.
Rather, it was an unusual relationship in its own right, one that ran contrary to the way people normally grew close.
Yet that was precisely what made it special.
With Luna, however, things had progressed much more quickly thanks to her open personality.
The three of them remained seated there for several minutes, simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
It truly was peaceful.
Bloom, however, had a far more energetic and restless personality, so she was incapable of enjoying the silence for very long. Before long, she had distracted herself by playing with the flames in the fireplace.
Not everyone could immerse themselves in silence so naturally or remain comfortable within it for long. It required a certain frame of mind.
Even so, the calm did not last.
It was broken by a question that was as sudden as it was unexpected.
Luna: "How many Ashwinders do you think could hatch from all the fires throughout Hogwarts?"
Extimum: "Hmm... I haven't been everywhere in the castle, but probably more than ten thousand. On the other hand, I don't think any would appear here. The main fireplaces in each common room are always put out once everyone has left, and the house-elves extinguish the castle's torches at certain hours as well, so the necessary conditions simply wouldn't be met."
"Why? Do you want to see the castle engulfed in flames?"
Extimum was not surprised by the seemingly unrelated question.
Over time, he had come to understand—if only superficially—the way Luna's thoughts tended to flow.
Luna: "No, no. It's just that I've never had the chance to see one myself. I've only ever seen frozen eggs in the Potions classroom."
Extimum: "Well, they're not particularly astonishing, nor do they look much different from how they're described in books. Still, if you really want to see one, I once saw a stuffed specimen in a shop on Knockturn Alley. If you ever get the chance, you should go and have a look. It's practically one of the area's attractions. Though I never noticed the name of the shop where it was on display."
Luna: "Really? But don't they disappear naturally after an hour? How could they preserve one? Are you sure it was real? I think my father once mentioned that they sell a great many fakes around there."
Extimum: "To be honest, I didn't examine it closely—I only caught sight of it in passing. But there was quite a crowd gathered around it, all wondering the same thing, so I believe it was genuine. Besides, even if it wasn't, they managed to recreate one perfectly, so it'd still be worth seeing."
Luna: "How do you know? Have you ever seen a live one before?"
Extimum: "Yes. It happened entirely by chance, and it caused quite a commotion. It looked exactly as the books describe. Aside from the trail of ash it leaves behind as it moves, the only things that distinguished it from an ordinary snake were the faint reddish aura surrounding it and the rise in temperature whenever it came near. Even then, unless you were standing quite close, both were difficult to notice."
Luna: "You were very lucky to see one."
Extimum: "Yes... although I'm not sure the owner of that inn would have agreed..."
he murmured absent-mindedly as he recalled what had happened that day.
He murmured unconsciously as he recalled what had happened that day.
Bloom: 'Hmm? That sounds interesting. Why don't you tell me about it?'
Luna: "Oh? Did something amusing happen? Isn't it just an Ashwinder?"
Extimum's comment immediately caught Luna's full attention. She closed the book, set it down on the sofa, and turned her complete focus to him.
Extimum: "Very well. It happened last year, during a trip to France."
"It wasn't a particularly long journey, but I took the opportunity to visit several tourist attractions, both magical and Muggle. I was on my way to one of those places, in the magical district, when I stopped at an inn for lunch. The place was rather crowded, and it was quite cold at that time of year."
"Fortunately, I was travelling alone, so it wasn't difficult to find a seat and order my meal. While I was waiting, I absent-mindedly looked around, and at one point I noticed the flames in the fireplace moving rather strangely. At first, I assumed some bored wizard was simply amusing himself by playing with the fire."
"Not long afterwards, however, I saw the flames suddenly grow still before beginning to gather into a physical form. At first, it was little more than a blur, but within seconds it became increasingly solid until a vivid green snake with crimson eyes came to life and silently slithered out from the embers."
"The fireplace wasn't far from several tables, so the snake reached one of them almost immediately. By the time everyone realised it was an Ashwinder, it had already set the table ablaze. I must admit, seeing one for the first time came as quite a surprise. It was certainly a creature worth beholding."
"Once I understood what it was, I didn't pay it much attention. After all, I was in an inn full of witches and wizards... or so I thought. Somehow, the situation quickly spiralled out of control. First it was one table, then before long it was three. The nearest wizards couldn't put out the flames effectively while the Ashwinder kept rekindling and intensifying every fire it passed. Someone even tried to carry it outside, but tripped halfway there, sending the Ashwinder flying across the other side of the inn. All they accomplished was enraging it, causing it to set everything around it on fire with even greater ferocity."
"The innkeeper seemed to have been busy down in the cellar at the time. He came rushing out after hearing the commotion, only to find his establishment on the verge of burning down. He dealt with the Ashwinder immediately and extinguished every last flame. That was the end of it."
Luna: "What? With so many wizards there, and no one did anything?"
Bloom: 'She's right. Ashwinders aren't difficult to subdue. I read about them in one of the books from your library the other day. They're only classified as XXX.'
That was hardly a threatening classification by the magical world's danger rating system.
It worked something like this:
X: Boring.
XX: Harmless.
XXX: Manageable by competent wizards.
XXXX: Dangerous; only highly skilled or specially trained wizards should deal with them.
XXXXX: Extremely dangerous; maximum caution advised.
Of course, the classification remained fairly broad, considering the vast differences that could exist between one wizard and another, as well as how subjective terms such as "competent wizard" or "expert wizard" could be. On top of that, these were living creatures, meaning countless variables could alter the true level of danger they represented.
As for whether higher classifications existed, they did. However, in the present day there were no creatures that warranted their use, so they remained nothing more than technical categories reserved for certain extinct species.
Extimum: "Ordinarily, yes, but the situation wasn't quite that simple. I'm certain there were plenty of capable wizards there, yet they all remained comfortably seated, watching the spectacle."
"I later learned that the innkeeper wasn't exactly well-liked by the locals. He was also rather negligent when it came to maintaining his establishment. He never bothered taking precautions to prevent an Ashwinder from forming, so although he was ultimately the victim of the incident, the French Ministry still fined him for negligence."
"He did have a bit of luck, though. Amid all the chaos, the snake managed to leave behind an egg in the ashes, so I imagine he was able to sell it to help cover the rebuilding costs. Well... assuming he ever managed to reopen the inn. To be honest, I never found out what became of it after that."
Luna: "Wow, that was a very interesting experience. I don't usually get to see things that remarkable, except when I help my father with some of his investigations. We don't always find what he's looking for, but we almost always come across something interesting along the way."
Extimum: "I suppose experiences like that become more meaningful when you can share them with someone... But changing the subject... have you been sleeping well?"
Luna: "Hmm? Well... it depends. Sometimes I wake up feeling quite tired. I think it might be because I spend the whole night sleepwalking, although it's difficult to tell. I've started leaving little clues behind to find out whether I've wandered out of the dormitory in my sleep, just so I can confirm whether it really happened."
"There's no clear pattern, and it doesn't happen very often. Other times it's the exact opposite—I sleep quite well, but I wake up very early and can't get back to sleep. So instead of lying in bed, I go for a walk or sit down and read."
Extimum: "Have you tried taking Sleeping Potions?"
Luna: "I have, but they don't work particularly well. Besides, it isn't good to take them too often, so I only use them occasionally."
Extimum: "Perhaps there's something worrying you?"
Luna: "No. It happened back home as well. My father mentioned it before, although it wasn't as frequent there. Though..."
Luna hesitated for a moment before continuing.
Extimum: "What is it?"
Luna: "Well, after that time you found me sleepwalking and brought me back to my room, I slept very well for the next few days and didn't sleepwalk again."
"At first, I thought it might have had something to do with that strange sensation I felt, but when you told me there hadn't been anything like that and that I'd probably just imagined it, I eventually dismissed the idea."
Bloom: 'Really? You had that sort of ability? Maybe that's why I always sleep so well whenever I'm with you.'
Extimum didn't respond to Bloom or comment on Luna's words straight away, though inwardly he was just as surprised by the possibility.
He had no idea whether he truly possessed such an ability.
Extimum: "Why did you think that strange sensation was connected? Couldn't it simply have been a coincidence?"
Luna: "I wonder that myself... I don't really know why I thought they were related; I just felt they were. Sigh. But I suppose I was probably just too excited by the idea that something might actually be able to help me."
"But it's alright. I'm used to it now, and it doesn't really bother me that much anymore. Sometimes I even forget that I'm a sleepwalker, and since it was probably just my imagination, I shouldn't dwell on it."
Extimum: "Yes..."
After that, they fell silent once more, returning to the peaceful atmosphere from before.
Luna reopened her book and resumed reading, while Extimum remained lost in thought.
Naturally, he wanted to help Luna, but first he had to determine whether he truly possessed such an ability. And if he did... had it been his bite?... Or was it something related to his fur?
But even setting those questions aside, how exactly was he supposed to deal with it?
If it was his fur, that would be manageable. He could try making some sort of charm from it. But if it had been his bite... he couldn't exactly go around biting her every night, could he?
That last possibility, in particular, was simply...
Ridiculous!
Extimum: 'Ah, what nonsense am I thinking? That's hardly the important part.'
He couldn't help inwardly complaining as he once again felt the unknown influence subtly twisting his thoughts in that direction.
Bloom: 'Is something wrong?'
Although Bloom couldn't hear Extimum's private thoughts unless he chose to share them, she could still sense the sudden irritation that had welled up inside him.
Extimum: 'It's nothing. Just pointless thoughts.'
Bloom: 'Hmm. As long as you're alright. By the way, what do you think about what Luna said? You're going to help her, aren't you?'
Extimum: 'Of course. As long as it's within my power, there's no reason not to help her.'
Extimum: "I'm going to take a walk. See you later, Luna."
Finding nothing else to do sitting there, Extimum rose from the sofa and headed towards the entrance to the common room.
Luna: "Oh, alright... No, wait. I'll come with you instead. The book isn't that interesting anyway."
Luna replied somewhat languidly, but quickly changed her mind. Closing the book, she slipped it into her enchanted bag before hurrying after Extimum.
.-.
-- Luna's POV --
After putting the book into my bag, I hurried to catch up with Extimum, who was waiting for me by the entrance to the common room. When I reached him, I instinctively took hold of his robe as we walked down the stairs of the tower.
I like spending time with Extimum. Whenever I'm near him, he always gives me a sense of calm.
I also like looking into his eyes. I've noticed they seem to have a slight hypnotic effect—or at least I think they do—because Hermione always ends up staring into them whenever their eyes meet. They've never hypnotised me, though. Even so, I like both their colour and their shape.
His gaze is always so serene, yet whenever those eyes rest upon me, they fill my heart with an inexplicable warmth.
There are no waves within those calm purple eyes, and yet... why do I always feel as though there's something more beneath them?
I always have the feeling that his gaze sees something else inside me—something only he can perceive—and that whatever he finds unconsciously fills him with warmth and a desire to look after me.
I like that feeling.
Sometimes he's difficult to understand, but the more time you spend with him, the easier it becomes. Besides, Bloom occasionally helps me understand him a little better.
Come to think of it, I don't really know how she does it, but Bloom is very special. I've seen fairies before, yet none of them compare to her at all.
Bloom is far more intelligent than she lets on, and she understands us perfectly. Still, I don't know why no one else seems to notice. They've even seen her writing; if she can write, shouldn't she be able to speak as well?
Hmm, I suppose they simply haven't paid enough attention. Then again, if Bloom truly can speak, she must have her own reasons for choosing not to. Either way, I love having her as my friend.
Even though it hasn't been very long since I met either her or Extimum, we've grown incredibly close in such a short time.
That moment still feels a little unreal.
When I first arrived at Hogwarts, I hoped I'd be able to make friends. I didn't have many back home because we lived in a rather isolated place. Aside from my father and a few magical creatures, I spent most of my time alone. Every now and then we'd have visitors with children my age, and I'd play with them, or I'd meet people while travelling with my father.
Other than that, I hardly interacted with anyone. But reality quickly caught up with me—it wasn't nearly as easy to make friends as I'd imagined.
At first, everyone seemed excited to get to know me, but once I started talking about the things I liked and my father's theories, for some reason they began to distance themselves. Some even mocked me, saying it was all nothing more than lies and fairy tales.
It didn't really bother me that they said those things. I assumed everyone believed in different things, and that it was only natural for people to find it difficult to accept someone else's beliefs. But as time went on, they didn't stop. If anything, they became a little harsher, and eventually they isolated me altogether.
There were a few who didn't mind sitting beside me during lessons, but they rarely spoke to me.
So I spent my time reading books, wandering through the castle, or simply getting lost in my thoughts.
At least, that was how things were until the day I met Extimum.
-- Flashback --
It was a day like any other. I was sitting at the Ravenclaw table eating breakfast when I noticed the students around me suddenly fall silent, all turning to look in the same direction.
Curious, I looked towards whatever had captured everyone's attention.
Sitting opposite me was a boy who looked a little older than I was. He had a very unusual appearance. His hair was platinum blond, streaked with strands of purple, and his violet eyes carried the air of a predator.
From his robes I could tell he was a Ravenclaw as well, though he had to be in an older year. I didn't remember seeing him among the students who'd started with me, nor had I ever seen him in any of my classes before.
Extimum: "Hello."
The greeting was directed at me, but at first I thought he might have been speaking to someone else. I didn't know him, and I couldn't imagine there being anything particularly special about me that would make him come over just to talk to me. Still, when I looked around, I realised everyone else was sitting quite far away.
He could only have been speaking to me.
"Hello. You have very unusual eyes."
So I returned his greeting and commented on the first thing that had caught my attention. They really were remarkable eyes.
Extimum: "Thank you. I'm Extimum Izorim. You're...?"
"I'm Luna Lovegood."
Extimum: "Would you like to come and sit with us?"
At first I was a little surprised that he wanted me to join him, but I had no reason to refuse.
"Yes. I'd love to."
-- End Flashback --
After that, I met Steve, Trudor, Mitchell, Padma, and Bloom. They were all very kind to me, and even if they didn't always understand me completely, they never judged me for it. Thanks to them, I finally stopped being alone.
From that day onward, even if I didn't speak to anyone during lessons, I was never truly alone anymore. The others also stopped isolating me, making fun of me, or treating me badly. In fact, I think some of them even wanted to get to know me.
It was as though everything had changed from the moment I accepted Extimum's invitation and chose to follow him.
Perhaps that's why he's someone so very special to me.
Lately, I've had the feeling that something seems to be troubling him, that he's a little tense. But whenever I ask the others, none of them seem to notice anything. They simply say Extimum is exactly as he's always been—"calm and unflappable, eccentricities aside"—which makes me wonder whether I'm simply being overly sensitive.
Even Padma doesn't seem to think there's anything unusual about him.
And yet... every now and then, I just can't shake that feeling.
Maybe I should ask Bloom.
I'd really like to help him, just as he helped me.
-- End POV --
.
.-.
"Stop right there! Don't run!"
A loud shout echoed across the castle grounds as the sound of hurried footsteps rang through the open air.
Neville ran as fast as his legs would carry him, doing everything he could not to trip over his own feet.
Honestly, he had no idea how he had ended up in this situation.
It was unusual enough that he'd found himself alone, when hardly anyone dared wander the castle unaccompanied during these uncertain times. And yet, of all the people he could have run into while heading back towards the central part of the castle...
It had to be Pansy Parkinson.
Pansy: "Longbottom! I'm telling you to stop! If you don't, I swear you'll regret it even more!"
Hearing her words, Neville could only force himself to run even faster.
Neville: 'Not for Merlin's sake am I stopping. Does she think I'm stupid? Does she think I can't hear the "even more" in what she just said? She's just going to hit me. Sigh. I'd tried so hard to avoid being left alone with her for the rest of our first year after everything that happened and the way things started this year... I suppose you can't always be that lucky.'
Pansy: "*Pant* L-listen, I'm really not going to do anything to you. *Pant*. Just stop. I only want to talk."
Pansy's voice came out in broken gasps as she struggled to catch her breath. She genuinely hadn't expected Neville to be able to keep running for so long without tiring.
Neville: "I-if you've got something to say, then just say it from over there. You don't have to come any closer."
Neville was beginning to tire from all the running as well, but he was in far better shape than Pansy.
Somehow, all those desperate escape attempts had improved his physical condition. Well... that, and the fact that he'd managed to persuade Extimum to sell him a potion that slightly enhanced the body's basic functions. Perhaps that was why he could breathe so much more easily and didn't feel nearly as exhausted.
In the end, enduring that bone-deep chill for an entire day while the potion took effect and granted him its immediate benefits had been well worth it.
On the other hand, he finally understood why Steve had given him such a sympathetic look when Extimum had mentioned that it was an improved potion still in the experimental stage before selling it to him at half price.
Still, he didn't regret buying it.
He couldn't help shivering as he remembered that freezing sensation, but he didn't slow down.
In truth, he could have reached the castle much sooner and spared himself all this running, but Pansy had managed to block his way through that entrance, leaving him no choice but to circle around the outside of the castle to the next one. That was why they'd ended up covering so much ground.
Pansy: "L-listen, I... I really have something important to tell you. Sniff. Y-you have no idea h-how hard I had to work just to get a chance for us to be alone, since you're always running away from me. Sniff."
Neville's eyes widened as he turned to look over his shoulder, unconsciously slowing his pace.
Neville: 'Is she... crying?'
Looking at her carefully, Neville could hardly believe what he was seeing.
Pansy Parkinson—the proud, arrogant girl who always mocked him and looked down on him—was crying.
And... because of him?
Seeing her like that, Neville almost felt sorry for her and was on the verge of going over to comfort her.
But how could he trust her?
Knowing Pansy, what if this was just another trick? What if she was only pretending so that, once he came close enough, she could catch him?
He honestly wasn't sure.
Seeing her standing there, crying, having come to a complete stop, he felt that perhaps he ought to approach her after all.
But in the end, his survival instincts—and his fear that it was all a trap—won out.
After giving her one last glance, Neville didn't hesitate. He turned and sprinted towards the castle entrance only a few yards away.
Meanwhile, Pansy remained where she was, wiping the tears from her face as she watched Neville disappear through the castle doors.
Pansy: "Y-you idiot."
Feeling miserable and exhausted, Pansy sank down onto the grass and buried her face in her knees.
'Doesn't he know that when a girl cries, the boy is supposed to go and comfort her?'
Pansy had truly gone to great lengths to create that opportunity.
She had practically resorted to both persuasion and intimidation to convince—or threaten—all the students who normally waited for Neville after class, making sure they returned to the castle ahead of him.
Then she had run from the far side of the castle, where her own lesson had ended, arriving just as Neville was leaving Herbology.
It was fortunate that Neville always lingered in the greenhouses for a while to admire the plants. Otherwise, it would have been nearly impossible to catch him at precisely the right moment.
Besides, she couldn't have tried during a shared Gryffindor and Slytherin lesson, because Neville would never have lowered his guard so easily. He would simply have left at once.
Crabbe: "Er...? Pansy? Are you alright? What are you doing sitting on the ground? Aren't you coming into the castle?"
Pansy: "Shut up, you idiot! It's none of your business what I'm doing!"
At the sound of someone else's voice, Pansy snapped out of her dejected state. She shouted at Crabbe, venting part of her frustration, before running off towards the castle.
Crabbe stared after her in surprise.
He had been helping Professor McGonagall carry some materials she'd asked him to move, and when he finished, he spotted Pansy sitting on the ground near the castle entrance.
He had simply wanted to ask whether something was wrong.
He certainly hadn't expected to be insulted.
Crabbe: "Huh... You could've just ignored me... sigh. Better not worry about her."
.-.
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