The semester was nearing its end, and the holidays were just around the corner. Only two Apparition classes remained before the final exam. Did this mean she, like those seventh-years lurking in the corners, would need two whole years to master it?
With her current skill level, could her mother even trust her with their home address?
"Target, determination, composure. Remember this, student! Try again!"
"Spin in place! Target, determination, composure!"
The fear of Splinching—where parts of a wizard's body could be left behind—was enough to deter most from reckless experimentation. Anyone who got Splinched was immediately taken aside to rest, and Lys wasn't about to risk it either. However, the longer she hesitated, the harder it became to stay composed, creating a vicious cycle that led to more Splinching.
The second-to-last Apparition class was scheduled the day before the Charms practical exam, and only a handful of students showed up.
Standing five steps away from the wooden hoop, Lys placed Crunchy on the instructor's desk. No matter what, she had to succeed this time.
After the instructor mechanically repeated, "Target, determination, composure," Lys attempted Apparition again.
This time, she fixed her gaze firmly on the wooden hoop.
Success! Lys checked herself—her body, clothes, even her hair—all intact.
She waved her wand to fling the wooden hoop farther away and attempted Apparition again. This time, she lost a tiny bit of hair at the tips, but it was within acceptable limits.
Oh! She had forgotten to spin!
But the result seemed fine, didn't it?
Could it be that the spinning, which made her dizzy, was the problem?
Lys found it hard to believe.
She didn't quite understand the purpose of spinning in place during Apparition, but it was clear that this small action, which helped most wizards succeed, wasn't suitable for her.
Merlin knew how many times she had spun herself dizzy in the dormitory, just to ensure she could precisely target the wooden hoop after a spin.
After succeeding five or six times, Lys suddenly had an idea. She dashed outside the Great Hall, conjured a flock of birds, and used them to capture a small bird, bringing it back.
Under the astonished gaze of the instructor, she moved on from the bird to an ugly toad from the Black Lake, and then to a Niffler from who-knows-where.
It was as if a light bulb had gone off in her head. With these small animals, she Apparated back and forth within the area designated by the Headmaster and the Heads of Houses.
There were no more incidents of Splinching.
Once again, Lys marveled at the power of a wizard's firm will and belief in influencing magic and its effects.
A firm will.
Oh, and no spinning…
During the final Apparition class, Lys repeatedly confirmed with the staff whether it was safe to Apparate with her snake.
"It's safe! I swear! As long as it doesn't get chopped into four pieces, I guarantee it'll be whole by the end of the lesson!"
The exasperated staff member pointed his wand and swore an oath.
With only two students in the entire class, he didn't believe he couldn't handle a minor issue.
Lys nodded, looking into Crunchy's amber eyes. "Trust me, I'll protect you."
Magic enveloped everything she intended to take with her…
Crunchy's head rested obediently on her right shoulder, completely still. Lys took a deep breath, her left hand gently stroking Crunchy's head, while her right hand gripped her wand tightly. With a determined expression, she disappeared from her spot and reappeared within the target circle.
[Happy.] Feeling the emotion Crunchy transmitted, Lys smiled faintly. After a few more successful tests, she headed off to her Care of Magical Creatures final exam.
When all her exams were over, Lys sat down with her notebook, listing the books she had read, the spells and knowledge she had mastered, and planning her study goals for the upcoming holiday. High on her priority list was the wand casing—she still had only a vague idea about the two magical arrays inside.
The silver-glowing side effect from the potion had significantly diminished, allowing Lys to borrow a stack of books from the library. Before the holidays, she cleaned out her bookshelf and discovered that she had some books overdue for two months.
Carrying the three books, Lys chatted with Crunchy about her holiday plans as she headed towards the library. With the holidays approaching, even Ravenclaws were spending more time outside, leaving the library nearly empty.
Turning a corner from a shortcut, Lys was briefly distracted by Crunchy's eyes when she vaguely heard someone say, "You attended the banquet!" Then, out of nowhere, something heavy struck her eye.
The impact was so sudden that Lys couldn't dodge in time. Clutching her bleeding eye, she quickly and silently cast a Shield Charm on herself, retreating back around the corner.
"Who?!"
The pain in her eye was so intense and specific that it sent a wave of stinging discomfort up her nose, making her eyes water uncontrollably and blurring her vision.
Thanks to her occasional full-blindness this term, Lys quickly extended her magical perception to sense her surroundings.
"Merlin! Black, I didn't mean to! I didn't expect someone to come out of the tapestry corner. Are you okay?" It was Lily Evans.
Lys cursed inwardly. Just her luck—nothing good ever happened when she ran into Lily Evans.
But at least Lily wasn't here to cause trouble. Ever since she had threatened Walburga Black, Lys had enjoyed a much quieter life, free from probing questions about her loyalties.
Clutching her bleeding left eye, she used her magic to sense her surroundings. "There's another person. Who?!"
The silence outside made Lys uneasy. Were they really lying in wait for her?
It wasn't until Lys launched an attack spell from behind the tapestry that the other person finally revealed themselves. "I'm Severus Snape! You crazy woman, stop attacking!"
"Do you honestly think Hogwarts is that safe?!" Lys retorted, listing her near-death experiences. "Last year, I almost killed myself in the library. This term, I nearly went blind. And that time in the Forbidden Forest? If the Headmaster had arrived just a bit later, we'd both be dead!"
Lys wasn't expecting an answer; she was just venting. Right now, her priority was getting to the hospital wing. Who knew what kind of damage had been done with all this blood?
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