Monday, October 10, 1994
Library, Private Room 22B
"Percy! Earth to Percy, can you hear us?"
"What? Yes, I'm listening," I said half heartily. "What's wrong?"
"Can you answer the question?"
"Why me?"
"Well, you're the under-17 duelling world champion, and you've had lessons from head French auror Nicholas Foucault and ex-duelling world champion Flitwick. Your opinion is much more valuable than those dunderheads," Pricilla said, gesturing to the Gryffindor and Slytherin boys.
"Hit me, what is the scenario?"
"Someone has used the leg locking jinx and the Tenebri Voxum. What would you do?"
"So you're in a situation where your opponent has immobilised you, and you let them obscure your hearing and sound."
"Yep," one of the Gryffindor boys replied.
"I would use a full powered Lumos Solum flanked by Bombara Maxima and an Expelliarmus, or Stupefy, depending on my mood."
"See, I told you," the Crown of Slytherin shouted, slapping the back of the Gryffindor boy sitting next to him.
"Quiet!" Madam Pince shouted back.
"Sorry," he whispered. "See, I told you so."
Pricilla gave the crown a death stare to shut him up. "Why Lumos Solum? Why not jump to the side and use a wide area of effect spell?"
"In this scenario, most duellists would use a wide area of effect spell to force you to stay still. Jumping to the side is like walking in front of a brooding female dragon, buck-naked. You're good as dead."
"But why Lumos Solum?" Jessica asked. "I'm asking for my less educated friends, obviously."
"Well, obviously, because that's the most logical response," I said in a slow and dumb tone.
"Tenebri Voxum has, by now, created a dark cloud that obstructs your hearing and vision. A full powered Lumos solum in any normal situation would temporarily blind or stun you. As your vision is already obstructed, you don't need to worry about that. Then use Bombara to knock them back with a bit of a kick and finish them off. Simple."
Jessica nodded, trying to process the information. "So, Lumos Solum followed by Bombara for a quick takedown," she repeated to herself. "Got it. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think so," I replied.
"Are you sure?" Jessica asked
"Maybe. I just have a lot on my plate."
"Like what?" A Gryffindor girl interrupted. "How you're too scared to recommend yourself as a champion? Or the thought of your girl friend sleeping with a guy with the same name as you?"
"At least I didn't prostitute myself to someone old enough to be my grandparent and get ignored straight after."
"At least I have parents."
"At least I'm not disowned."
"That's enough, both of you," Jessica snapped. "Apologise and shut up. Can't you see we're in a library and we're setting a bad example for the children?"
"Maybe you should mind your own..."
"Percy, don't you dare finish that sentence."
"Business"
"Stand up and walk with me," she said, seething with disappointment. "Now!"
She was one hell of a spitfire when she was angry. Not wanting to face that side of her, I promptly followed her instructions and left the library with her. We walked with awkward silence following us, until she broke it.
"Do you mind explaining what happened back there?" she asked, and I ignored her. Silence, yet again, resumed. "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, but you should seriously consider getting help. I'm not going to be there to clean up your shit when you go too far in one of your little tantrums. Sort yourself out; we have international guests arriving on Friday."
We resumed walking in silence, until I could not bear it any more. "I've been going to Madam Pomfrey for help for the past four weeks. She suggested a treatment plan last Wednesday, and we started it yesterday."
"Is that why we couldn't find you yesterday?"
"Yes. It turns out I'm a natural occlumens and I've ducked up my mind in ways I didn't know were possible. We undid most of it. Because of that, the emotions I've suppressed are coming out like a broken dam."
"So that's why you've been acting like a toddler on a temper tantrum high. It makes sense," Jessica said. "Do you need anything from us? Anything? A hug? A biscuit? Maybe my world famous fudge brownies? Ah, I know. Do you want to cuddle?"
"No thank you, mum," I replied with a smirk.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that?"
"Sorry, mum."
"I didn't know you had a mummy kink," a voice from behind us said. "I can be your mummy if you want. How would you like that?"
"Miss Granger, how can we help you?" Jessica said, turning back at Hermione with a glare.
"Oops. I didn't know you were possessive of your little boy," Hermione said as she came closer. Jessica responded with an even more deadly glare. I think I could have mistaken her for a basilisk.
"Okay, I'll stop. I'm actually here to talk to you, Percy."
"Can it wait till tomorrow?"
"I don't think so."
"Why don't you walk with us? We're heading towards our common room," Jessica said.
"Why are you going back to the common rooms so early?" Hermione asked. "I thought your study session ended at sundown."
"It does. Percy butted heads with a Gryffindor girl, and he needs time to cool off," Jessica replied.
"Who would have thought having all four houses together wouldn't dissolve into chaos?"
"At least we don't resort to fighting like rabid dogs when we're in close proximity," Jessica said. "I thought you said that your question couldn't wait till tomorrow?"
"Yeah, it can't," Hermione said before turning to me. "Why didn't you turn up today?"
"When?" I replied.
"After lunch."
"What for?"
"Out tutoring sessions. Like we've had for the past three years," Hermione said.
"Oh, those. Hasn't McGonagall told you yet?" She shook her head while I looked sheepishly at her. "I'm not your tutor this year. Jessica is going to take over for me."
"What? I am?" Jessica said, confused.
"Why?" Hermione asked. "Is it because I used the Time Turner to go back in time to save Buckbeak? Or is it because we almost got injured by a werewolf even when you told us Remus was a werewolf? Or is it because we harboured a wanted fugitive that escaped from Azkaban?"
"Those definitely played a part, but they weren't the main reason," I said, while this time she looked at me confused. "I now have arrangements that would conflict with our prior agreement. Flitwick thinks it's best I deal with new arrangements instead of you."
"How is that fair? It can't be more important than me?"
"It is," I said. "I will be taking Neville from Jessica until December. After that, you two will discuss with each other if you want to stay how you are or want to go back to how things used to be."
"I have to spend my Mondays with her now?" Jessica asked as I nodded. "You owe me."
"Fine."
"You owe me too," Hermione said.
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do. I'll make sure of it," she said smugly. "Have you guys decided yet?"
"Decided what?" Jessica asked.
"If you're participating in the Triwizard Tournament."
"I won't be."
"Depends," I said.
"He'll participate if a certain French girl participates."
"Jessica!"
"What's her name?"
"It's not my place to tell."
"You have to. You know he'll never tell me. I didn't know he was dating Penelope until, like, two days ago. Oops, sorry. I should have mentioned that. Um, sorry," she said before we were interrupted.
A silver-haired girl ran towards us. She jumped on me. I caught her while stumbling a few steps back.
"Percy! I found you. I need help. Come quickly," Luna said as she peaked herself off of me. She grabbed my hand and tried to drag me away.
"Luna, calm down. What's wrong?" I asked.
"Fourth floor. My project. Something amazing happened. Also explosion."
"Explosion?" I was flabbergasted. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do we need to go see Madam Pomfrey?"
"No, I'm fine. We may need to replace the ceiling," Luna said. "It was only a small explosion."
"An explosion is an explosion," Jessica said. "Who even authorised your research?"
"Percy did," Luna said. "He is my supervisor, after all."
"Come on, you have to see it," Luna said as she tugged me along. "I managed to stabilise it at 510,000 revolutions per minute, but anything too high or too low results in an explosion."