Chapter 67 - Ambush
Sunday mornings at Hogwarts were usually peaceful. Most students slept late after a long week of classes. The corridors were quiet and the castle seemed calmer. Even Peeves caused less trouble before breakfast.
I liked using that time for exercise. After all, if I was planning to survive whatever fate had prepared for Harry Potter and everyone around him, staying fit seemed like a good idea.
So, as usual, I had gone for a jog around the castle grounds early in the morning.
The air was cool. The sun was only beginning to rise. By the time I returned inside and headed toward the basement, I was feeling quite good. It was a great morning, until it was not and fate decided to punish me for having a good time.
I turned a corner in the silent corridor and immediately froze.
Three people stood there blocking the corridor. None of them looked happy. In fact, they looked terrifyingly calm. My heart sank.
I slowly considered turning around. Unfortunately, the moment I moved, three wands appeared all pointed directly at my nose.
"...Good morning?" I tried.
Nobody answered. That was not encouraging.
Before I could think of another excuse, they marched me down the corridor and into an empty classroom. The moment I was in, they closed the door closed behind us with a loud bang.
I looked at the closed door. I looked for the non-existent windows. Then I immediately stopped looking for escape routes, as there weren't any.
I looked at the three ambushers. Their three wands were still pointed at me.
So I did what any respected, powerful and intelligent person would have done. I slowly raised both hands in surrender and raised a white flag.
"I can explain."
Not because they were enemies. That would have been easier to solve.
No. These were far more dangerous.
"You better explain. Or you won't be leaving this room in one piece." The First person said, her voice was dangerously calm.
I swallowed. Trying to lighten the mood, I tried to joke, "So I'd be leaving in two pieces?"
"No," It was the second who replied now.
"Three."
The last member nodded seriously, agreeing.
"One piece for each of us."
I stared at them, shocked.
They stared back without flinching.
The scary thing was that none of them were smiling. For one horrible moment, I genuinely thought they had already discussed how to divide me.
I gulped.
Perhaps this was not the time for jokes. It would be a very embarrassing way to die.
Not fighting dark wizards. Or battling dangerous magical creatures. Or protecting Harry.
No.
I'd die in an abandoned classroom because three girls were angry with me.
What a legacy.
Yes, the ambushers were them.
Natasha.
Missy.
And Wanda.
The three girls who stood shoulder to shoulder with their wands pointed on me. The three people who were closest to me after my family.
As I was dreading over it, Wanda spoke.
"Start talking."
The three wands that remained fixed on me were now glowing a little. It was sign of their magic being in very active states and ready to fire.
Alright, it was time to role before they treat me as practice dummy. So I told them the reason.
"It's because of Harry."
All three blinked. That wasn't the answer they had expected.
Natasha frowned.
"What?"
"It's because of Harry. I want to become legally independent as soon as possible as Harry doesn't have a magical guardian. He is famous. Everyone has vested interests on him and politics is being played around him. By very powerful people of all types. Everyone wants something from him."
The room grew quieter.
"And if something happens, I don't want to stand there helpless because I'm legally still a child. I want to be able to protect him. Properly. I want to have the authority to help him if the need arises. For that I have to be legally become a adult. And the fastest way to do that is to finish school early and to be emancipated."
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then Natasha narrowed her eyes.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"It is the Truth."
"Really?"
"Really."
Missy folded her arms.
"Not another excuse?"
"No."
Wanda tilted her head.
"You're not trying to get rid of us?"
I nearly choked.
"What?"
"The accelerated graduation."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You're not trying to leave us behind?"
I stared at her.
Then at the other two.
Then back at her.
"No!"
The answer came out much louder than intended.
The three girls looked unconvinced.
I immediately raised both hands again.
"Never."
Still unconvinced.
"Absolutely never."
Still unconvinced.
I decided drastic measures were needed.
"Why would I want to get rid of you?"
The girls waited.
I searched desperately for words.
"You are all..."
Think, Arthur.
Think.
"...beautiful."
Natasha raised an eyebrow.
"Only beautiful?"
I nearly had a heart attack.
"No!"
I pointed desperately.
The wands lowered a tiny bit.
Progress.
"...intelligent."
A little lower.
"...kind."
Another inch.
"...thoughtful."
Lower again.
"...brilliant."
"...talented."
"...hard-working."
"...amazing."
"...wonderful."
"...exceptional."
"..."
At that point I was saying every positive adjective in both my current life's vocabulary and my previous life's vocabulary that I could think of.
I was fighting for survival. There was no room for pride.
Missy tried very hard not to smile. Wanda looked away. Natasha's lips twitched.
I immediately pressed the advantage.
"You three are among the most important people in my life."
That got their attention.
I continued honestly.
"Why would I ever want to get rid of you?"
The classroom became silent.
Finally.
Slowly.
The three wands lowered completely.
I nearly collapsed with relief.
Merlin above.
I had survived.
A valuable lesson was learned that day.
'The only thing which can save a person from angry girl is by complimenting them.
Compliment them with every word possible, in every way possible.
And don't think reasoning or explaining to them will be of any use. It will be labelled as another excuse.
I am speaking with experience. As they say, Tried and Tested.'
The silence lasted for a few moments. Then Missy spoke.
"But there's still a problem."
I sighed. Of course there was.
"What problem?"
"You'll graduate early."
I nodded.
"Hopefully."
"Then what?"
Natasha asked.
"If you finish in two years, we'll still have two years left."
Wanda looked down.
"We won't be together."
The room became quiet again.
I finally understood what had truly upset them. They were worried about being separated.
For a moment, I felt guilty for not being understanding.
Then I smiled. Because I already had a solution.
"Don't worry."
The three girls looked at me.
I folded my arms confidently.
"I won't be going anywhere."
Three identical frowns appeared.
"What does that mean?" Natasha asked.
"Exactly what I said."
Missy narrowed her eyes.
"Arthur."
"Yes?"
"Explain."
I grinned.
"No."
Three wands immediately rose again.
My smile vanished.
"Okay, okay!"
They waited.
I laughed nervously.
"It's a secret."
"A secret?"
"A temporary secret."
Wanda crossed her arms.
"And when are you telling us?"
I smiled again.
"When the time is right."
The three girls exchanged suspicious looks. None of them seemed satisfied.
But thankfully, none of them seemed ready to dissect me anymore either. I considered that a major victory.
Outside, the castle remained peaceful and quiet. Inside the classroom, however, I had just survived one of the most dangerous encounters of my Hogwarts career, or even my life.
And somehow, I had a feeling that facing Voldemort in the future might actually be simpler.
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End of Chapter 67 - Ambush