Hogwarts was overflowing with people.
Wizards of all ages, wealth, and colors of attire wandered here and there with their children. These companies were everywhere—walking along corridors, galleries, sitting in the Great Hall, clearly indulging in nostalgia, because for the most part children studied in the same place as their parents.
Going outside, or rather, into the inner courtyard, I breathed in the rather warm air deeply. True, this is the only liberty I allowed myself. The sudden influx of people caused slight discomfort, knocking me out of my usual rut. But, on the other hand, only now did the feeling of Hogwarts being filled with people appear. It is exactly this many young wizards I would like to see studying within the walls of this castle, as many wizards as there are here in total right now. Wonder if the founders built Hogwarts "for growth," or were there more wizards before?
Outside the castle, the snow had melted long ago. This made me feel like a turtle from an old cartoon—she was so slow that every time she went outside, she was dressed and prepared for the past season. Quite a sad cartoon, by the way, if you think about it.
The snow melted, but greenery didn't even think of appearing. February is a month of stable grayness, autumn witheredness, gloom, cold, bone-chilling rains, and mud. Good thing that specifically now there was almost no mud, and the forest around is coniferous after all. Yes, it is dark and gloomy at this time of year, but if it were deciduous, then we would have to admire completely bare trees.
My admiration was interrupted by students and parents who considered it their duty to walk not only around the castle but also outside. And now it is allowed to go to Hogsmeade too. Even a little pity that Daphne decided to sleep it off. On the other hand, she has a little sister, a blonde angel-Astoria, clearly not approving not just our friendship, but the fact of communication in general. So she will drag Daphne out of bed if their parents arrive among other guests.
I stood slightly to the side of the path that led from the castle down to distant Hogsmeade, along a gentle slope, past Hagrid's hut, past the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Groups of students with their parents marched briskly along this path. But, whether in the castle or here and now, one could not fail to notice that far from all the guys were visited by relatives—some walked in the company of their friends and their parents, and some just suffered from idleness, enjoying an unexpected day off. Naturally, Hermione's and my parents were not to be expected.
Here Harry and Ron appeared. They looked happy, joyfully communicating with Mrs. Weasley and her two eldest sons. Somewhere in the distance Fleur hugged a girl of about twelve, standing in the company of a short and stout man with magnificent mustache, and a rather spectacular blonde woman. Krum walked along the path with a solid couple of middle-aged, but not old wizards, restrainedly pointing his hand now in one direction, saying something, then in the other. Standing here, a little in the distance, I saw quite a lot of other familiar faces, but they were familiar to me only from the platform in London, where these same wizards met students after the end of the school year.
I just stood, breathed fresh air, examined the surroundings, apparently, still not having recovered from the training marathon arranged by Snape. Even I now and then imagined either a carving knife in my hands, or a stirring rod neutral to magic and various chemistry, or a bubbling cauldron. One had only to think about something, or close one's eyes, as this cauldron appeared before the eyes, in which something bubbled differently each time, constantly changing the colors and shapes of the bubbles. Still, I chose the optimal training mode for myself, giving an excellent load, magnificent academic performance, but also perfectly alternating with rest, and the most important thing is that the rest was suitable specifically for me, and not banal staring at the ceiling lying on the sofa.
Gradually all these young and not so young wizards wandered throughout the territory of Hogwarts. I wouldn't be surprised if a few of them climbed into the Forbidden Forest—there, like it or not, one can find several amusing ingredients for potions, and generally, the local nature is quite rich in something interesting.
Cedric came out of the castle gates quite quickly, immediately starting to look around, searching for someone with his eyes, and when he saw me standing away from the path, immediately went in my direction.
"Hi," he waved his hand, almost running up. "Thought I wouldn't find you today."
"Hi, Prefect. Did something happen?"
"Not exactly," Cedric stood next to me, like me, looking at the castle surroundings. "Hmm... Interesting observation spot you chose. Both the view is good, and absolutely everything is visible."
"Did you come to praise me?"
"Hey, don't be snide," the prefect smiled. "Although, probably, not the most pleasant feeling when... Well..."
"Everyone's parents visited, and mine can't even in theory?" I smirked, looking at Cedric, who didn't know how to express this thought more tactfully.
"Something like that, yes. But I'm not here for this. Father pushed the rings through."
"Hm?"
"Rings for Apparition."
"Hasn't even been a year," I smirked again.
"You're kinda prickly today."
"Probably communicated too much with Professor Snape," I shrugged one shoulder.
"Perhaps," Cedric nodded. "So, will you train in Apparition? This evening, in one of the classrooms. Most likely, right opposite the common room."
"Of course," I nodded and breathed in more fresh air. "Task tomorrow."
"There is that," Cedric became a little tense.
"I asked the Headmaster. He says that the Cup contract specifies a search competition against time and without restrictions."
"Why then such an unambiguous message?" a shadow of indignation lay on Cedric's face. "Just so we move more actively?"
"Perhaps. By the way, I thought about various things concerning this competition in passing. Where do you think the kidnapped people will be hidden?"
"Well," Cedric thought. "Considering that they will allegedly be stolen by merpeople, then in their city."
"I thought so too. Literature about Hogwarts talks about this city and gives a clear description of it. Almost schematic. The most massive and prominent place there is the statue on the central square."
"Logical."
"Cedric, do we know exactly where the merpeople city is located?"
"Of course."
"And where the square is?"
"Certainly."
"Surely, the starting point of the swim will not be over the city."
"Ha, of course," Cedric smiled. "Otherwise the competition itself will lose some semantic load. If, for example, you start from the shore, then while you get to the merpeople city, you will meet a bunch of all sorts of living creatures and plants. Not the friendliest, but not particularly dangerous either. Those same Grindylows."
"That's what I was thinking about. Well, not that I exactly 'thought', so, in the background, during breaks. And what prevents you from summoning a broom, flying to a point over the lake, strictly vertically above the city and the square, since we know its exact location. Cast a Bubble-Head Charm, transfigure a heavier cobblestone, and literally dive down like a hawk. Total—five-seven minutes way there. Quickly release the hostage, and together with him/her, 'riding' Ascendio return vertically up and get to the finish on the broom?"
"Um... Didn't think about that... It says, into the water, means into the water... And indeed!" Cedric was clearly glad about the opened prospects. "Even though you can only take a wand with you, you can summon anything. Like last time. Shorten the distance and time by air. Thank you, Hector. This is an important and correct idea."
"Don't mention it."
"And you, by the way, are not worried about Hermione?"
"The Headmaster explained the details, the contract has no force at all in this sense. Well, and other security nuances—I don't think that after such preparation and so many hopes for international cooperation that will reach a new level, and so on... I don't think the organizers didn't think through the security nuances of those involved."
"Perhaps..." Cedric saw his father, who came out of the castle gates and began to look around. "Okay, Hector, I ran. Don't be bored!"
The prefect waved his hand to me and hurried towards his father. Mr. Diggory, as soon as he saw his son, immediately smiled. As soon as Cedric ran up to his father, he immediately patted him on the shoulder, and they went along the path in the direction of Hogsmeade.
"It's not good to eavesdrop," I addressed nowhere, continuing to look at the castle and wizards, wandering around the neighborhood in all directions like ants.
Of course, I didn't see who was standing nearby, a couple of meters from me, but the spider hanging out on the Astronomy Tower sees an indefinite outline. For its eyes this is too great a distance, and it is practically impossible to understand exactly who is nearby—I can't really make out myself.
"Didn't want to interrupt such an important conversation," an invisible film seemed to flow off Lady Malfoy.
"Unexpected," I nodded in greeting, turned away and again began to observe the movements of wizards, small details of their communication, listening to the sounds of nature, the rustle of the wind, and pieces of conversations and laughter brought by this wind.
"What exactly?" Lady Malfoy stood a meter and a half from me, fixing her gaze on the mountains.
"I assumed that you would prefer to spend time with Draco."
"This is a family moment, such a visit. However, my husband translated the meeting from family to business too quickly, gathering a whole council of Draco's comrades and a couple of fathers. Their wives turned out to be too busy and didn't come today, and I have no desire to communicate with professors."
Glancing with one eye at this really spectacular blonde, I noticed the usual neutral expression on her face and a rather keen look directed at everything around. But there were notes of nostalgia, which is not surprising—Lady Malfoy, like almost all of the adult wizards present here, spent five or seven years of her life at Hogwarts, capturing its most controversial and difficult period, childhood, youth. Not surprising that this castle evokes certain memories.
"And what brought you here specifically?"
"Previously, exactly on the spot where we are standing now, there was a small stone platform. Of natural origin. After one incident, it was destroyed by a spell. Before that, it was a good place to inspect the castle and the district. There were also small bushes, an embankment here. It was difficult to approach this place from behind. Sitting here, one could feel like sitting in an ambush, seeing everything, knowing everything, and no one sees you."
"Hmm... Seems every wizard has their own fascinating story about Hogwarts," I smiled, not looking at Lady Malfoy. "So why are you here?"
"Hm?"
"Offhand I don't see a single reason for us to stand so nicely on a small hill near the grove, talking about the old days and looking at Hogwarts and the expanses around."
"That is so," Lady Malfoy nodded calmly. "I just came to a place I loved long ago, but it turned out to be occupied. However, I have one question personally for you, Mr. Granger, literally giving no rest. How do you reflect joking invisible curses?"
"Nothing simpler," I smiled and raised my hand palm up. "I felt your curses on approach."
Concentrating, I created a visual effect based on Lumos—a kind of oval amoeba hovering over the hand.
"Imagine that this," I nodded at the slightly glowing amorphous thing the size of a ball, "is the energy component of our body. Don't know what it's called, and if it's called somehow at all. Although, it seems to me, it would be more correct to say that our body is a material manifestation of this energy in the material world. But, these are particulars..."
Seeing slight misunderstanding on Lady Malfoy's face and the discrepancy between what she wanted to hear and what she hears, I decided to proceed directly to the essence.
"A curse," based on the same Lumos, I created a tiny red ball that began to approach the yellowish amoeba, "invades the energy and sprouts due to its aggressiveness."
The red sphere "stuck" into the amoeba and began to sprout there like tree roots.
"Along with this, the curse affects the energy in one way or another, and through it—the body, behavior, way of thinking, and other activity of the body. Feeling those simple curses on approach, I intercepted them, true, they managed to sprout a little bit. But I simply squeezed them out of my energy and sent them to the sender. I didn't even know it was you."
"Very unusual," Lady Malfoy smiled, but the smile was not sincere.
No, she wasn't hiding any negativity, contempt, or any other emotions behind it. Just not sincere—perhaps she didn't even want to smile. Sigh, hypocritical communication of the upper circles of society or those who consider themselves part of them deservedly, or out of delusions.
"You don't believe me?"
"Such a thing—is too unlikely for you."
And interpret as you wish.
"You asked—I answered," dispelling the illusion, I looked into the distance again.
"And you are not at all worried, Mr. Granger, that you are telling such secrets of your abilities, literally, to the first person you meet?"
"And especially considering," with a smirk I turned to Lady Malfoy, "the origin and various nuances of the past of this very 'first person I meet'? Not at all. I don't make secrets out of such things. If someone is interested in the nuances of sorcery, some methods that I suddenly know, then I will gladly share."
"This could turn out to be a very shortsighted strategy."
"Better when you hide, deceive, intrigue, manipulate information to please yourself?"
"Power and influence in the society of wizards rests on such an approach," judging by the tone, it was a statement of fact.
A sharp gust of cold wind ruffled us considerably, but ended as quickly as it began.
"Deception and lies are the prerogative of the weak and fearful. Like a small child innocently deceiving a parent, fearing punishment. Like the weak deceiving the strong to mislead him for one reason or another. Like the one who keeps knowledge, will not tell the whole story or will lie to the asking one, fearing that the asking one will use the knowledge better than the keeper."
"Do you consider yourself strong, Mr. Granger?" Lady Malfoy even tilted her head slightly, and her smile was full of demonstrative curiosity and slight mockery.
"I strive for this," I nodded. "But I prefer to be strong among the strong, and not among weaklings, and considering that a wizard's strength comes from the mind—then not among fools. In being stronger than a weakling and a fool, there is no achievement, no honor, no reason for joy or pride. If I told you this little secret of mine, and you, as a witch, surpassed me in using this trick, then it will show my insufficient diligence."
"Interesting position. But for those seeking strength and power, there is always Dark Magic. Isn't it?"
"You know," I smiled, and another gust of cold wind spoiled the mood a little. "I suggest returning to the castle. The weather has ceased to be conducive to walks."
Naturally, I put my elbow to the side, offering the lady support in the difficult journey along the slopes near Hogwarts. Of course, she didn't need help, but good manners surged by themselves, as if mirroring the mannerism of the circle in which I am communicating at the moment.
Step by step, we headed to the castle.
"Not so long ago, it seems, last year," I continued the answer that never started. "I had one conversation. Like, wizards, as people in general, have extremely insufficient mind, intelligence, and our brain is weak for us to use magic without any crutches like a wand, complex calculations and formulas supposed to help us translate the desired into reality."
"This is an extremely common theory among wizards," Narcissa nodded when we passed a scattered group of students with their parents, while we both politely nodded to acquaintances. "Although, it would be more correct to say that this theory even has evidence."
"Exactly. Dark Magic in my view is another crutch. Using negative emotions in sorcery for its multifaceted strengthening is an easy path, excluding the development of a wizard as a being. As a personality. Development of a living organism. An easy path, instead of labor and self-development. It seems to me, this is just a dead end."
"Dead end?"
"Yes..."
We entered the inner courtyard and moved through it to the Entrance Hall.
"...Life, as a process, has only one meaning—constant development. This is a kind of end in itself of life in general. Not exactly mine, yours, or any other wizard around us," I swept my gaze over the few who decided to spend time in the inner courtyard. "But globally, as a phenomenon. Evolution is a tool allowing more developed and adapted individuals to appear. They, in turn, being more developed than the previous generation, survive better, produce more offspring. More developed in their own generation are stronger and receive, again, more opportunities for reproduction, passing their best, just acquired superior qualities to other generations. Less developed or simply carrying unsuccessful combinations of signs and qualities are less adapted, weaker, die or simply do not get the opportunity to reproduce, thereby not passing their unsuccessful signs to the next generations."
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