****
Walking quietly behind the girl, I carefully examined Crystal's figure, at the same time becoming more and more immersed in thought.
For almost half a year, I successfully managed to avoid talking to her. No, communication did not change, but personal conversations came to almost nothing. And I can't say that she liked it very much. Every time I managed to "sneak away" from another conversation, I felt behind my back all the indignation that overwhelmed the girl.
In general, I had quite significant reasons for avoiding communication with her for as long as possible. First and foremost, there is no desire to get involved in Hoag's "high" politics. No matter what anyone says, every elder in the castle is one or another figure, and if he is also gifted beyond measure... I think it's clear.
The second is her incomprehensible interest in me. Perhaps initially Crystal paid attention to me only because of the professor, but then... And these words of hers about some "business" or "assignment" do not add even a drop of desire to me to continue communication.
Third and, perhaps, the final one is the incomprehensible matter with Crystal Sr., as well as Rod. Susan may have been a necromancer, but why was she banished? For what? It's not clear, and that makes me want to get into this "kitchen" even less.
An outside observer might ask: why did I change my mind? And he would be in his right, nothing just happens. The answer to this question is quite simple: since I started making my first attempts at this "game," it means I need to use all possible ways to gain benefits. Why did I even begin to "cook" in this cauldron of snakes? And for this it is worth saying thank you to the teacher. Do not understand? I'll explain now.
If you look at her actions from the outside, then all her actions, no matter how they are, affect my "position" in the magical world. Unclear? Meeting my grandfather on Diagon Alley, a trip to Greenland - all this was created for me to meet those whom she at least trusts. Although all this would be premature for a child, Poppy may be in a hurry. Or maybe she has something else on her mind. Who will understand them, these old Seeds.
Further training at Smethwick. This is not only an acquaintance with the Chief Doctor, but also a way to show me to everyone else. I don't hide my appearance; all my "roads" to Mungo pass where there is a large concentration of intelligent ones. Yes, and I am constantly accompanied. Either Smethwick itself, or Augustus.
But all this could be attributed to coincidences, or paranoia, but recent events completely refute these theories. The way Poppy showed herself to Lady Longbot and the teachers clearly indicates that she is gradually introducing me into the world.
Thinking about this, a few questions arise. Why such a rush? What was the trigger? And what exactly does she need from me?
Having come to at least some significant conclusions, I decided not to sit on my butt, but to move on myself. The first step was taken while visiting Augusta, the second was communicating with Neville. The third one will happen now. And the fourth... It's a little later.
Having stepped onto the stairs leading to the top of the tower, I simply could not stand it and still asked the question:
— Do the inhabitants of the castle have such a fetish or something? — faced with Penelope's questioning glance, I explained. — Every conversation of any significance takes place on the astronomy tower. Not in an empty classroom, not outside Hogwarts, but where it is most logical to look for intruders. Is this humor or something else?
After standing still and glaring at me, Crystal silently turned away and continued climbing the stairs. Well, okay, I'll find out for myself in the future.
"It's hard to believe," the girl's calm voice burst into my mind. Exposure for the sake of ambience? Or something else? "But at the top of this tower there is the smallest number of enchantments, and the number of portraits on the way here is not so greater than in other parts of the castle.
- And why systematically create such a large gap in the defense of the castle? — a natural and completely logical question escaped my lips. - After all, the absence of charms implies the presence of a rather large blind spot.
- Who said she was blind? The density of spells here is less, but this does not mean that they are not here. At a minimum, the basic protective and tracking charms of Hogwarts are present here," was the answer. — Simply by possessing certain knowledge, which, of course, is not available to ordinary people, you can quite legally create a "white noise" zone, beyond which not even a single grain of information will escape.
Hmm, that's how it is. This means that among privileged students (that is, large aristocrats, also their associates) there is a way to somehow influence Hog's spell in their favor. The question is how strong and broad are their powers? And do they apply only to this tower? Something tells me no. I wonder what else they have up their sleeves. It is possible that these "authorities" were granted to them by the school leadership.
A minute later we finally arrived at our destination, the top of the tower. Penelope walked a little forward, took out her wand, and began to create a spell. At first, by her will, we were protected from gusts of heavy wind. Then two soft chairs appeared right out of thin air (well, as many as possible, they wouldn't have come up with something newer. But no, even the colors are the same, magically similar to the colors of wizards' ties). And at the very end, when the wand was already hidden, magical waves emanated from the girl's figure, as if they were "absorbed" into the walls of the castle, changing something in them. It's true that it's not clear.
Very interesting.
"Have a seat," Penelope said, sitting down in "her" chair. After looking at her a little, I finally sat down in the offered chair.
They sit opposite each other and remain silent. Only our views intersect from time to time, but I could not read anything worthwhile in them. She's a very unapproachable person.
- And why did you call me here? — I was the first to break the resulting silence.
- Maybe the reason is that you ignored one person for almost half a year? — the girl looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes. — Or maybe your patronage over the supposed pariah of the faculty? - oh, it must be the Moon. This means she was registered as a pariah in absentia. If it weren't for me, her fate could have turned out exactly the same as in the canon. — Or maybe your suddenly increased attention to one snake that climbed into a crow's nest? - Hmm, maybe it's from the moment when Daphne asked to look after her? "Or is your title an apprentice in healing, and also an internship at Mungo's in Smethwick itself?"
This means that all publicly available information (okay, not quite publicly available. But if you make an effort, it won't be difficult to find out all this) is known to her. This means her interest in me is still strong. The only bad thing is that he is much taller than I expected.
At least Krystal doesn't know about Nev's situation. This means that the school management made a decision (well, as it was, it was more likely accepted) to conceal this information. Is it good or bad? Well, depending on which way you look at it...
- Let's let go of all these reasons for now. Now I'm only interested in one point from the above," Penelope continued. "I can't even describe in words the shock that I experienced when, during a visit to St. Mungo's Hospital, I saw one familiar figure of a first-year student, which means I missed it. It turns out we bumped into each other in the reception area. - Not only that, but he was accompanied by Hippocrates of Smethwick himself, the luminary of the School of Healing in England. Grand master, with claims for half a century to take the level of an archmage. "What do you think," the girl sharply lowered her tone. — How great was my surprise?
"Judging by your emotional speech, quite," I answered without even raising an eyebrow. So Smethwick is aiming for Archmagi. Wonderful. What are you up to, teacher?
"We're still not getting through it, as always." Right? — she asked a rhetorical question, which she soon confirmed. "However, I don't need the answer; I know it very well myself." Better tell me this," Crystal said, becoming serious in a moment. — How can an ordinary magician, who comes from a family of ordinary people, have such connections? How does this magician have extra time if he is studying at school and is also engaged in the re-education of three individuals? What is it about you that several families are interested in you at once? And why did Poppy Pomfrey take you as her student for the first time in a hundred years?
Two crystal clear eyes stared at me. Their gaze tried to look into the most distant parts of my soul, trying to find out all my secrets and mysteries. However, nothing worked out for him.
"Sometimes (all the time) I ask myself the same question," I answered after a few seconds. "Sometimes all this seems unreal to me, as if it's not happening to me." In rare moments, I am overwhelmed with the desire to be an ordinary magician, unknown to anyone, unnoticed by anyone. However, everything turned out exactly this way and in no other way - by not remaining silent for long, I thereby took a short break. - Let's drop this topic. Tell me, why did you call me here? It's not just that you started this conversation.
"That's right," she nodded slightly. — What do you know about the post of headman? How do you get it?
"Appointed by deans," he shrugged. However, it seems that everything is not as simple as it seems.
"Formally, yes, that's exactly what happens," she began. "I don't know how exactly this happens in other faculties," he lies. - But here, in order to become a headman, you need to pass some kind of test for professional suitability.
- And what does it consist of?
— The prospective candidate must be in charge of at least two courses. Also, under his "rule" there should be no problems that the candidate cannot solve on his own.
"It's all over fine, but why are you telling me about this?"
"Don't play the fool, you already perfectly understood exactly where I was going," she didn't let me take the topic in a different direction.
"However, this doesn't make it any easier for me," I admitted. This is so much trouble. No amount of influence is worth it. After all, this position will take up a very large chunk of time that I could spend on self-development.
"However, everything is moving towards this," she shrugged.
- Can I refuse? — I made another attempt.
"You can, but you will lose influence not only in the faculty, but also outside it," this person answered in a second.
Yes of course. How can a magician give up power on his own? After all, the position of headman allows access to forbidden parts of the library. What is a library? Knowledge. Hmm, maybe I can legalize some of my skills this way?
"But that's not all," Penelope continued. - I personally have a small task. If you cope, you will receive something that will greatly help you. No, it means my hopes placed on you were not justified.
"And what do you want me to do?" - oh, I shouldn't have done that.
- Find out who the Heir is.
*****