The beginning of October, or rather, the very first day, was marked by a trip to Hogsmeade. As it turned out, starting from the fifth year it was possible to visit Hogsmeade a little more often—almost twice as often. Earlier I didn't notice this nuance, because no one focused attention on this, and on weekends, when such events are held, I am usually busy with completely different things. But this, again, is lyrics. The main thing, as it seems to me, event—is the final approval of the first meeting of the guys who wished to additionally study DADA. By the way, regarding DADA.
In Snape's notebook there was a huge list of spells, the application of which to a spell or curse flying at you from an opponent entails their mutual destruction or other effects leading to the destruction of the enemy spell. It's funny that many of them were perfectly familiar to me, but how they can be used—was a mystery to me. For example, it is unlikely that without a hint one can guess that a simple household spell for tying shoelaces destroys Incarcerous with the physical manifestation of a binding element, be it ropes, threads or chains. At the same time, Incarcerous can be of practically any power.
Literally in two days having disassembled these notes I derived for myself one significant moment in counter-spells. Banal and obvious, but only after you realize it. A spell in flight from the opponent's wand to your carcass can be neutralized in flight by another spell, the essence and meaning of which lies in the effect capable of neutralizing this very spell. That is, take the same Incarcerous. In fact, even the weakest spell for tying shoelaces violates with its mental image the essence of the Binding spell, which leads to its collapse. However, if suddenly someone throws a fireball at you, even if specifically such a spell does not exist in the local school of magic, then it should be extinguished not with water, as it seems at first glance—this way you will only get a volumetric explosion—but, attention, with a modification of the Bubble-Head Charm, Suffocation.
With curses, the situation is different, because they carry a much more abstract effect, and often the counter-spell for this or that curse is completely unobvious. But this is all lyrics—you just need to understand the essence of such protection, and be able to understand what exactly the opponent sent at you. But, my thoughts again wandered away from the main topic.
Hermione scheduled a meeting of those wishing to additionally study DADA in, who would have thought, the Hog's Head. In a tavern located on the outskirts of Hogsmeade far from the main road. According to rumors, rarely does any of the students go there, as the establishment is not of particular interest. The conversation about this took place literally on Saturday evening, before the day of the hike. Sister intercepted me after dinner at the exit from the Great Hall.
"Hector."
"Yes?"
"You haven't changed your mind about participating?"
"No," I shook my head negatively. "I'm always glad to support your adventures if they make sense. There is sense in this specific one."
"Understood..." she drawled.
"Are many people planned?"
"Not very. You, I see, are dissatisfied with something?"
"Not that dissatisfied... It's just that the Hog's Head—is not the best place."
"How exactly? There are always few people there, few visitors. No one will catch us. Most likely."
"That's exactly what's bad. It would be much better to meet in the Three Broomsticks or another crowded place—less chance that we will be overheard."
"Oh... I didn't think about it in that vein. But in any case, it's too late to change anything."
And this was really so. It was too late to change the meeting place, and it only remained to make sure tomorrow, in the Hog's Head, that we provide the proper level of privacy using charms and spells.
After this short conversation I returned to the common room, where Tamsin, almost from the threshold, rolled out to me a list of "fresh meat" for the team. She conducted tryouts in several stages, during which not so much those who lacked skills were screened out, but those who wanted to play not for the sake of the game, but for the sake of victory—we do not need such, oddly enough. Such people, ready to embody victory at any cost, somewhat distort the concept of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, so they were cut off. For us, as I realized a long time ago, wizards with a desire specifically to play in this or that role are a much higher priority.
"Well?"
Tamsin looked at me with an obvious question in her eyes, waiting while I familiarized myself with the list, with personality traits and skills that she wrote out opposite each name.
"What 'what'? You are the captain, you decide. Zacharias seems not bad in the role of Chaser—can take."
"Is that the one who is your classmate?"
"Yes," I nodded. "I don't personally know the rest, but if believe your notes—more than suitable."
"Listen. And didn't you want to participate in the selection?"
"Why?" I was genuinely surprised. "With my skills this will only lower the self-esteem of the other guys. Since I claim the role of Keeper..."
"I would still like to see you in this role before the game. Just to be sure."
"Doubt it?"
"Not at all," the girl smiled. "But psychologically it will be easier for me, as well as for the other guys. You understand yourself how, sometimes, confidence that the goals are under reliable protection means a lot."
"That is so. Good. When is our training?"
"On Tuesday early morning."
"Means, I'll be there."
"And here's another thing..."
Tamsin handed me a scroll of parchment.
"Because I am the team captain," she began to speak when I took the parchment in my hands. "This whole administrative pile of problems hung on me."
Unfolding the parchment, I could not help but be surprised at another offer from the manufacturers of Sleipnir. Its second version in exchange for just one condition—to play once in each role and prove myself as effectively as possible. The only thing not required—is to play Seeker. And this moment makes me very happy—playing Seeker with my skills—too fast an end to the match, and this is fantastically boring.
"And what is required of me?"
"Signature, of course," Tamsin smiled brighter than before. "The broom is already in warehouses in England. Everything as you are used to—without limiters. For complete psychos, suicidals and kamikazes."
"And, in your opinion, is there a difference between suicidals and kamikazes?"
"For you from a historical point of view, or straight morally?"
"As you wish."
Tamsin nodded, thought for a fraction of a second, which was visible from her eyes, and answered:
"Suicidals—people without a sense of self-preservation, hurrying to settle scores with life in the most diverse, sometimes very extreme ways. Kamikazes—people whose self-sacrifice is a small brick, symbolizing a contribution to victory. Oh yes, the first are considered psychos, and the families of the second are on very high state support. Until they fulfill their goal."
"I don't even know whether to be surprised at your knowledge, or saddened by the area in which it extends."
"That is, you knew who they were, and still asked?"
"Well yes," I smiled, which caused an answering smile from Tamsin.
"Look," she scolded me, "I will stop answering your questions—you will search for answers to them for days in tangled, distorted and far from always truthful chronicles."
"Understood-accepted, won't do it again, Sir Historian, sir," I saluted in the manner of a brave warrior, whose face expresses only a limitless lack of intelligence so as not to embarrass the high authorities with its presence.
"Clown."
On the morning of October first, the incredible happened—Hogwarts students had the opportunity to notice that it snowed almost all night instead of rain. Such a thing did not brighten up the gradually darkening forests and hills around Hogwarts in the slightest, but added a fair amount of slush. And even now, in the morning, those who are allowed to leave the Hogwarts territory for the sake of a hike to Hogsmeade gathered in the courtyard, wrapped in warm autumn cloaks, jackets, coats, hiding from prickly snowflakes driven by the wind and immediately melting as soon as they touch the skin. In general, it was cloudy, damp and a bit windy.
Filch, as always, carefully monitored the availability of written permissions to visit the village. McGonagall once again issued a tirade about the fact that such hikes—are our privilege, and if we "screw up", we will quickly lose it.
Standing at a short distance from the general crowd, I, Daphne and Pansy, who under the pretext: "I don't want to be with them, I want to be with you and I don't care what you think about it", joined us, I thought about the upcoming walk. Thought in some abstract images that my thoughts took in my head.
"Hector..."
"Yes?" I turned to Daphne.
The girl did not change her style in warm winter clothes, preferring a dark blue coat with black fur on the collar, a scarf and a perfectly fitting beret. Parkinson was dressed in approximately the same style, except that she preferred dark green fabric colors, and the cut was more French, elegant. I myself wrapped up in dark clothes and a black robe with quite lush, but purely strict and masculine in its style black fur trim.
"First, as I understand," Daphne began to speak, burying her face in the scarf, hiding from the snow that flew in with the breeze, "we'll go to the meeting?"
"Yes. They decided to organize everything at the very beginning of the walk, and then already disperse to their entertaining affairs."
"And correctly."
I was really wondering how many people would show up, and most importantly—to hear what they expect from these extracurricular DADA classes. But the most intriguing thing was who Hermione would choose as a competent teacher for all of us. Somewhere deep in my soul there was even a crazy desire to show who is worth what if the alleged teacher turns out to be incompetent, but I crushed it. Just need to wait a little. And why didn't sister let me in on the details of her plan? Although, is it any wonder—I myself tell her far from everything. Yes, just wait—and everything will become clear.
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